UNB, Rajshahi :
Hosts Bangladesh won the SS Steel two-match FIFA International Friendly series 1-0 beating Sri Lanka by 1-0 goal in the 2nd and last match at the overcrowded 22,000 capacity Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium here on Monday.
The day also brought another joyous occasion for the country’s sports-loving people as Bangladesh earned their long-waited Test victory beating Zimbabwe by three wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Oo Friday, Bangladesh played to a 1-1 draw with the visiting Sri Lanka in the first match of the series at Shams-Ul-Huda Stadium in Jessore.
By virtue of the day’s victory, Bangladesh are enjoying an upper hand winning nine matches against the Sri Lanka’s three while the remaining two matches ended in draw in their 14 meetings.
In the series-deciding match in the country’s northern city, striker
Zahid Hasan Emily scored the match-winning goal for Bangladesh in the very 3rd minute of the match from a penalty amid huge cheers from houseful crowd.
The home side got spot kick in the early when Sri Lankan vice-captain Lakana Roshan brought down onrushing Bangladesh skipper Mamunul Islam Mamun at the left edge of the danger zone.
Emily did no mistake to convert the penalty into goal beating Lankan goalie Sujan Perera in the other direction from the spot (1-0). It was Emily’s 18th international goal.
Lankan Roshan almost scored the equaliser in the 21st minute but his curved free kick from the top of the box hit the crosspiece.
The match was mostly confined in the midfield in the 2nd half as Bangladesh was found busy to safeguard their lead while Sri Lanka failed to produce any fruitful attempts.
Satellite TV network ‘Channel 9’ telecast the match live from the country’s northern city of Rajshahi.
