The hosts, who scored all their goals in the first half after a scintillating start, will leave for Sri Lanka tonight to play the away leg on November 25 in Colombo.

Skipper Sabuj shot the home side in front after 11 minutes while midfielder Rana doubled the lead with a spectacular strike five minutes later. Bangladesh were 3-0 ahead by the half hour when striker Zahurul scored with a header but unfortunately, the finishing was not as good as a series of second-half opportunities went begging.

With the local boys controlling the midfield with a string of neat passes, there was only one side on the pitch. The first real chance went to the Red and Greens. But Emon's placing shot crawled wide of the post after eight minutes. The hosts didn't have to wait long before they found the net from their second attack.

Mobarak failed to connect cleanly after Zahurul floated the ball near the goalmouth from the left but Sabuj stabbed home while the two Lankan defenders delayed to clear the danger.

Rana then pulled off a stunner from 35 yards, lobbing the rival keeper with a curling left-footer that virtually put the opposition out of the game. There was no respite and Sirfin, who replaced injured midfielder Mobarak on the 27th minute, set up the third goal for Zahurul who nodded home a perfect centre from right.

Bangladesh wasted four clear-cut opportunities and inside the first 15 minutes of the second half and Rana hit the woodwork from close before the visitors showed some spirit.

Substitute winger Fasal ran through the local defence ten minutes from time but his feeble shot went straight to goalkeeper Nehal, who gave away a penalty three minutes later for a clumsy change on Ziyad.

Nehal, however, made amends for his mistake when he dived full length to parry Fasal's low drive from the spot.

Sri Lanka coach Chandrasiri admitted that his side lost to a better side.

"I would have been happy had we scored that invaluable away goal. Now we have to win 4-0 at home and that is a big task. We will try our best to utilise our own conditions," the former international told after the match.

"They were nervous, probably because of their first international appearance. I have no complaints against conditions here and I hope they would play up to their ability in the return-leg," he added.

Bangladesh coach Mahbub Hossain Roxy was elated after the team's magnificent show in his first assignment. "My real hope was the midfielders and they really impressed me. They fed the ball consistently as well as chasing constantly to tease the opposition. They just played as I had briefed and that goal from Rana was absolutely fantastic," said Roxy.

"In the second half, most of the boys got carried away and squandered chances because they wanted goals to their names. It can happen to inexperienced players. I hope we will be able to qualify for the finals after this result," expressed the former national midfielder.

"I have never seen any youth team in our country play with such maturity. The midfielders challenged the opponents and were brilliant in the scoring zone. The defence was also very good," said a highly impressed manager Najir Ahmed Alok.

TEAMS
BANGLADESH: Nehal, Pintu, Rasel, Mojaddak, Jony, Mobarak (Sirfin), Raju, Emon, Rana (Jitu), Zahurul (Sabbir) and Sabuj.

SRI LANKA: Paranawithana, Imran, Hijaz, Rukmal, Lakmal, Peiris, Perera, Mubaris (Fasal), Irshad, Bandara and Ziyad (Sudharshana).