Maldives has suffered a 3–2 defeat to Sri Lanka after throwing away a two-goal lead in the opening match of the SAFF U-20 Championship.
At Galolhu Stadium, captain Ilan Imran gave the hosts a dream start, scoring twice in the first half to put Maldives firmly in control at 2–0.
But the game shifted after the break, as Sri Lanka mounted a strong comeback with three quick goals, including a decisive penalty, to turn the match on its head.
Despite a confident first half performance, Maldives now faces early pressure to bounce back and stay in contention for the semi-finals.
