KABUL (PAN): Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka 2-0 in the last football match of group A on Tuesday, emerging as the group champions with maximum nine points during the South Asian Games underway at the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

Bilal Arezou the in form Afghan forward scored both the goals for his team, leading his side to the final of football competitions at the MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong.

Eight member countries of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) including Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan are participating in the tournament.

Spokesman for the national Olympic Committee Muhammad Arif Paiman praised the outstanding performance of Arezou who guided the side to the final.

Afghanistan has been placed in pole A in the football competitions. Other countries in the same pole are Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. The Afghan squad had already defeated India and Pakistan. The Afghan players participating in different competitions have won five bronze medals so far.

Bangladesh lock horns with Maldives in the last match of the group A in the 11th SA Games football to decide the group championship at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 6:15 pm on Tuesday. Both the teams confirmed their semifinal berths with two consecutive wins earlier.

Meanwhile, India thrashed Pakistan with ace forward Jeje Lalphekula slamming a hat-trick hitting the back of the net in 35th, 52nd and 78th minutes.

Tirthankar Sarker and Lalrindika Ralte scored apiece. Rizwan of Pakistan put his team ahead in the 3rd minute of the match but India regrouped to prove their mettle.