Nepal enter semi-finals of SAFF U-20 unbeaten

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 23: Host Nepal topped Group A after winning both the group matches and entered the semi-final of the SAFF U-20 Championship as ‘unbeaten’. Nepal defeated Bangladesh 2-1 in the final group match played in Satdobato, Lalitpur, on Thursday.

“We had to win this match anyhow. We could not even afford a draw. Thus, we started with attacking and tried keeping the pressure throughout the match,” said Urjan Shrestha, head coach of the Nepali team, during the post-match conference.

The attack and pressure favoured Nepal as the host led by two goals in the gap of two minutes. A clear from Nepal’s box after a corner from Bangladesh crossed the halfway line inviting Bangladesh’s goalie Md. Mehdi Hasan Srabon, also the skipper, to come forward. However, Sarbon was not alone, Samir Tamang was also running towards the ball.

Sarbon made a blunder after seeing Samir coming for the ball allowing the Nepali striker to take the ball forward and score the first goal of the match in an open frame in the beginning of the 17th minute. Samir’s summersault celebration showed how much the goal meant to him.

As the pressure built up on Bangladesh following the mistake, they gave away the ball while restarting the play and allowed Nepal to extend the lead within minutes. A cross from the right flank by Abinash Syangtan found Nirajan Dhami inside the box and a touch from Dhami saw Nepal lead by 2-0 at the end of the 18th minute. 

It was Dhami’s second goal of the tournament, which he celebrated with a Siuuu, after the winner against Sri Lanka in the opener.

Bangladesh made two changes after trailing by two goals. Coach A.K. Maruful Haque subbed out Mohsin Ahmed and Hossain Mohammad Arian and brought in Mirajul Islam and Asadul Molla in the 32nd minute.

Islam’s early entrance was fruitful as Bangladesh earned a penalty in the 42nd minute after he was fouled by Ashwin Ghorasainee and Ram Thapa. Making Nepal’s goalie Jiyarat Sheikh chose one of the sides, Islam went through the centre to score the first goal for the team.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh could not find any more goals after that. In a match where five minutes were added at the end, Bangladesh had the best chance in 90+6 minutes to equalise. 

A cross from Md. rabby Hossen Rahul, Bangladesh’s No. 7, found the head of tall Md. Rostom Islam Dukhu Mia and while the ball was heading towards the top corner, Jiyarat came to the rescue with a one-hand save.

“We are happy for the result as the game was good. We will start focusing on the next match,” said Nepal’s captain Kushal Deuba.

Nepal and Bangladesh were playing to determine their place in the group as the topper has an advantage of facing the second-best team from Group B in the semi-final. The duo’s opponents will be decided after the faceoff between India and the Maldives on August 23.