Bangladesh’s bid to defend the title of SAFF U-15 Championship got off to a flier as they handed a 4-0 defeat to Sri Lanka in the opening match of the regional age-group championship at the ANFA Complex ground in Nepal today.

Forward Faisal Ahmed Fahim slotted a hattrick while Nazmul Biswas struck the other goal in the one-sided encounter. The win all but ensured Bangladesh’s semifinal berth from the three-team group. Bangladesh will play against Bhutan in their final group match on Tuesday.

A draw in that match will be enough to see Bangladesh through while a stalemate or an outright win in favour of Bhutan against Sri Lanka in Sunday’s encounter will seal Bangladesh a semifinal berth even before they face Bhutan.

Faisal gave Bangladesh a 29th minute lead with a left-footed strike from inside the box before doubling the lead with a grounder in the 33rd minute. Nazmul made it 3-0 in the 45th minute before Faisal completed his hattrick in the 76th minute converting a penalty.