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SAFF Championship 2021 

Matches Today Would Be Tournament Defining 

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2021-10-10 11:46:17
Matches Today Would Be Tournament Defining 

The two matches to be played today may very well define the direction of the tournament. Table topper Nepal plays pre-tournament favorites India. The reigning champions host Maldives would play against the bottom of the table Sri Lanka. 

Bangladesh will be towards the outcome of both the matches. A win of Nepal would take them way outside any teams reach. A draw would still keep them in good stead for the final. India would definitely go all out for win in their do or die match today. Anything other than a win may almost led them getting knocked out as they would have to play hosts in the last match with no chance of making to the final. Maldives has fair chance of winning against Sri Lanka. If that happens with 6 points from 3 matches, they would brighten their possibilities. Bangladesh would definitely require winning their last match against Nepal for any chance of playing in the final. 

Bangladeshi fan followers would be eagerly watching the matches today. They would be hoping Nepal winning and knocking out India. On the other hand, it would be interesting if Sri Lanka can upset the host through winning or even holding them to a draw. 

Points Table 

Team

Match

Won

Lost

D

GF

GA

GD

Pts

Nepal

2

2

0

0

4

2

 2

6

Bangladesh

3

1

1

1

2

3

-1

4

Maldives

2

1

1

0

2

1

  1

3

India

2

0

0

2

1

1

  0

2

Sri Lanka

3

0

2

1

2

4

-2

1

[photo collected]

It is almost certain that either Nepal or Maldives if not both would go to the finals. Even if India wins today Bangladesh can only go to the final winning against Nepal in the final match. That would make Bangladesh earning 7 points peeping Nepal to the post. India winning would have 5 points from three matches. Maldives win today would take them to 6 points. India Maldives match winner would join Bangladesh for the final. 

Bangladesh would have to find winning formula. A longer rest would benefit Bangladesh for regrouping and setting strategies. Oscar would have fine-tuned his forwards for cashing on opportunities. Nepal is the form side of the tournament and at this moment is looking good.  It would not be an easy task for Bangladesh will teams not being able to score. They cannot even hold balls longer or chance game plans at quick pace. Anyway, circumstances alter cases. Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. Oscar is a smart coach and can definitely do something out of ordinary to prescribe for his charges.

BDST: 1146 HRS, OCT 10, 2021
SMS

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