SAFF U-15 Champs: Bangladesh to reach semi-final

Gb news24 desk//

Bangladesh emerged Group A champions with all-win record to reach the semifinals of the six-nation SAFF U-15 Championship beating hosts Nepal by 2-1 goals in the last group match at ANFA Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal on Monday afternoon.

After the group stages, Bangladesh (Group A) and Pakistan (Group B) clinched the group crown with all-win run to qualify for the semifinals securing full six points from straight two encounters while Nepal (Group A) and India (Group B) finished group runners-up to reach the semis, collecting three points from two matches.

Bangladesh will play the first semifinal against India on Thursday (October 1) at 10:30 am while Nepal will face Pakistan in the 2nd semifinal at 2:30 pm on the same day and same venue.

The final match will be held on Saturday (November 3) at 2:30 pm at the same venue.

In the day’s match, Ahad Shakil put Bangladesh ahead in the very 2nd minute of the match (1-0) while Jaan Limbu restored the parity for Nepal in the 36th minute (1-1).

Rajon Hawlader scored the match-winning goal for Bangladesh in the 46th minute (2-1).

On completion of the group matches, Nihad Jaman of Bangladesh dominated the scorer list making four goals while two other Bangladesh players—Ashiqur Rahman and Rasel Ahmed–followed the leader scoring two goals each.

Touring Bangladesh, which got off to a flying start in the three-team Group A crushing the Maldives by 9-0 goals in the opening match on Saturday featuring a hat-trick by Nihad Jaman, needed just a draw against hosts Nepal to clinch the group title as Nepal outplayed the Maldives by 4-0 goals in their first appearance last Thursday.

On the other hand, Pakistan clinched Group B title beating India by 2-1 goals and Bhutan by 4-0 goals while India finished Group B runners-up beating Bhutan by 4-0 goals.