Verified

Lanka in statement 3-2 triumph over Mauritius

Sri Lanka concluded their latest international window on another historic note, closing a demanding four-match FIFA international friendly programme with an emphatic 3-2 victory over higher-ranked Mauritius on Monday (5).

The series began with two matches against Seychelles, where Sri Lanka secured two fine wins, before meeting Mauritius in two successive clashes.

Sri Lanka encountered a 0-3 loss in the opening match which was played as a practice fixture against Mauritius, but the tourists hit back ever so strongly in the second meeting, producing a stirring performance to post a remarkable 3-2 triumph on overseas soil.

Bharat Suresh opened the scoring for the visitors before Niloshan produced a beautiful header to add another goal to lead 2-0.

Sam Durant then converted from the penalty spot to complete Sujan Perera’s team’s three-goal effort. However, Mauritius came back with two goals of their own but still could not find the equaliser as the Lankans did well to keep them at bay and maintain their current winning ways.

More importantly, the outcome here reflects the value of competitive international football for a team with a much bigger objective ahead.

These four matches against both Seychelles and Mauritius have provided Sri Lanka with invaluable match experience, opportunities to test combinations, build confidence and strengthen the squad ahead of future international challenges.

For Sri Lanka, the ultimate target remains clear-to regain the SAFF Championship title for the first time since 1995.

Sri Lanka have been waiting for 31 long years to lift that elusive title, and the ambition of returning once more to the top of the South Asian football arena remains a major goal for the Abdulla Al Mutairi-trained outfit.

The latest international window may only be one step in that journey, but three wins in four matches offer an encouraging platform to build further.

The road ahead will demand consistency, discipline, teamwork, and belief. These international fixtures have given Sri Lanka another chance to build those qualities and crucially, to enter the next phase of preparation with greater confidence and renewed hope.