Booters down and out

The Bangladesh U-23 national football team bowed out of the H E Mahinda Rajapakshe International Football Tournament as they suffered their second consecutive defeat losing to hosts Sri Lanka 1-0 at the Jayathalike Stadiumin Nawalapitiya yesterday.
Having lost the first match against Pakistan, Bangladesh had no alternative but to win the match against Sri Lanka but their hopes were dashed when Prasad struck the all-important goal with an accurate header in the 69th minute.
However, the decider kept Sri Lanka's chance of playing the final alive as Maldives notched their second successive victory to confirm the final berth of the four-nation meet after beating Pakistan in the day's first match.
Now, the winners between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will reach the final while Bangladesh will play against Maldives in their last match tomorrow, with the hope of restoring some pride.
According to a report from Bangladesh Football Federation, both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka fought equally and produced a few scoring chances but none of them could capitalise on those opportunities.
Bangladesh goalkeeper Maksudur Rahman Mustak thwarted a good effort from Sri Lanka forward Farhad in the 27th minute while Bangladesh forward Shakhawat Hossain Rony was denied by Sri Lankan keeper Sujan Perera on the half-hour mark. Striker Towhid failed to keep a Shohel Rana cross on target from inside the box in the stoppage time of the first half.
After resumption, Bangladesh enjoyed superior ball procession and yielded some chances but conceded the lead against the run of play.