Bangladesh storm into SAFF semi-finals with 4-0 rout of Sri Lanka

Bangladesh produced a commanding performance under new captain Hamza Choudhury, sweeping aside Sri Lanka 4-0 to finish top of their group and book a place in the semi-finals of the SAFF Championship.

Shamit Som, Hamza Choudhury, Farhan Ali Wahid and Rakib Hossain were all on target as Bangladesh secured their second successive victory, taking their points tally to six from two matches.

Hamza's side will face Pakistan in the semi-final on 14 November at 8:30pm.

Bangladesh made an aggressive start and took the lead in the eighth minute. Hamza delivered a cross from the right, but Sri Lankan goalkeeper Sujan Perera failed to gather the ball. Shamit Som reacted quickest to the rebound and fired it into the net to put the hosts 1-0 ahead.

The hosts continued to press for a second. In the 25th minute, Hamza attempted a backheel finish after receiving the ball from Farhan Ali Wahid's header, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.

Bangladesh doubled their advantage shortly before half-time. In the 43rd minute, Hamza collected a pass from Ibrahim, surged forward and beat a defender before unleashing a shot that deflected off Perera and found the net.

It was a memorable moment for Hamza, who scored in his first match as national team captain. The goal was his fifth for Bangladesh, all of which have come at the National Stadium.

Bangladesh carried their attacking momentum into the second half. Farhan produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 53rd minute, collecting the ball on the left and weaving past three Sri Lankan defenders before entering the penalty area and finishing with his right foot to make it 3-0.

The hosts continued to threaten. Sri Lankan goalkeeper Perera produced an excellent save to deny Suki Itfusa's long-range effort in the 83rd minute. But Bangladesh struck again just a minute later.

In the 85th minute, Rakib Hossain raced forward on a counter-attack, outpaced a defender and found himself one-on-one with Perera. He calmly lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net to complete the 4-0 victory.

The emphatic win was tempered by an injury concern for Bangladesh. Defender Saad Uddin was stretchered off in the 76th minute after sustaining an ankle injury. Rahmat Shah came on in his place, while Jamal Bhuiyan replaced Kazem Shah during the same period.

With six points from two matches, Bangladesh have secured top spot in their group and a place in the last four. Their attention now turns to the semi-final against Pakistan.