Striker Enamul Haque celebrates after scoring the first goal in Bangladesh's 4-0 thrashing of Bhutan in the 11th SA Games at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

Bangladesh eased into the semifinals of men's football event of the 11th SA Games as they handed a 4-0 defeat to Bhutan in their second group match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Enamul Haque opened the scoring in the first half before Nasirul Islam, Mohammad Yousuf and Imtiaz Sultan scored one apiece in the second half to script the comfortable victory.
Bangladesh started the match in an attacking mode and kept it up till the very end. It was an one way traffic as far as attacking and scoring chances were concerned and Bangladesh could have got even more on the score sheet had they not wasted a few chances early.
The first real scoring opportunity came in the thirtieth minute when Nasir went solo with the ball down the right flank and provided an inch-perfect cross for Zahid Hasan. But the nippy striker couldn't get on the end of it.
Zahid was denied by the woodwork a few minutes later. His powerful header on a swerving cross from Atiqur Rahman beat the keeper but thudded off the upright. Then Bangladesh's prolific striker Enamul found the goal at his mercy at an arm's length, but he blasted wide. However, he made amends a minute later from a similar goalmouth melee when he was fed with a wonderful flick from Wali Faisal and the lanky striker made no mistake on that occasion.
That opened the goal-gates for the hosts and they found the back of the opposition's net three more times after the break.
It took them only six minutes into the second half to double the lead. Nasir came darting into the penalty box as he danced past two defenders from the right end and unleashed a fierce shot above the goalkeeper on the near corner.
Bangladesh got their third in the sixty-ninth minute when Yousuf broke the offside trap on an inviting pass from Mamunul Islam and placed the ball past the Bhutan keeper into the net.
Bangladesh were awarded a penalty six minutes later when a Bhutanese defender handled an attempted bicycle kick from Mithun Chowdhury inside their own penalty area. Substitute defender Imtiaz, who had come on to the field hardly a minute ago, chipped the spotkick over the keeper. The ball hit the bar before touching the goalline to make it 4-0. Despite taking their two best strikers Enamul and Zahid off in the second half, Bangladesh kept the pressure on the opposition and won the match without much ado.
Bangladesh's Serbian coach Zoran Djordjevic was satisfied with the result, though he said there were scopes to make improvements.
"I am happy with the result, happy with the way the boys performed. But then there is still a long way to go for us. We have only gone half the way. There is still a lot to be achieved and a lot of improvements to be made."
"Most of the players are relatively new, and they are playing with the pressure of the home crowd. In spite of their best efforts, boys are making mistakes, so we still can make a lot of improvements in our game. I will only say that the job is done when we finish the competition as winners," said the Serbian for whom the Games comes as the first test since taking charge of the Bangladesh side two and half months ago.
The scorer of the opening goal Enamul said they were happy to deliver something good, especially for the fans after a frustrating exit from the SAFF Championship a month earlier.
TEAMS
BANGLADESH: Aminul Haque, Nasirul Islam, Wali Faisal, Mintu Sheikh, Rezaul Karim, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Mohammad Yousuf, Enamul Haque (Imtiaz Sultan), Zahid Hasan Ameli (Tawhidul Alam), Shakil Ahmed (Mithun Chowdhury), Mamunul Islam.
BHUTAN: Chimi Dorji, Dawa Gyeltshen, Karun Gurung, Thinley Dorji, Nim Sangay, Pema Rinchen, Hari Gurung, Kinley Wangchuk, Kinga Thinley, Pema, Passang Tshering.