Nepal bows out of SAF soccer games

AP

DHAKA, Jan. 15: Bangladesh beat Bhutan 3-0, while the Maldives defeated Nepal 3-2 with three goals in an action-packed second half, to reach the semifinals in the South Asian soccer championship Wednesday.

Bangladesh now faces defending champions India and Pakistan meets the Maldives in the semifinals on Saturday.

Bangladesh's Ariful Kabir Farhad scored in the 3rd and 54th minutes, while Rokonuzzaman Kanchan netted the ball in 78th in their final group B match against Bhutan.

The match was a mere formality as the hosts had already secured a spot in the semifinals after winning their two previous group B matches against the Maldives and Nepal.

Bhutan, which made its debut in the tournament, go home without winning a match or scoring a single goal.

Earlier, in a decisive group B encounter - with the Maldives needing just a draw and Nepal requiring a win to qualify for the semifinals - was 0-0 at the end of the first half.

The Maldives got a golden opportunity to lead in the 44th minute but Nepalese goalkeeper Upendra Man Singh stopped a poorly taken penalty shot from Mohammed Nizam.

Niranjan Rayamajhi put Nepal ahead in the 55th minute, kicking home a shot of Bashanta Kumar Thapa that had deflected from a side post.

Mohammed Nizam equalised for Maldives in the 60th minute, putting the ball into an open net when Nepalese goalie Singh failed to grip a cross of substitute Ahmed Naaz.

The Maldives took the lead in the 75th minute when a fine header by Ashraf Luthfy found the net.
Ali Umar took the Maldives goal tally to three in the 82nd minute, finding the net from a brilliant cross from Ali Shiham, who commandeered the ball from almost midfield to reach the penalty box.

Nepal reduced the goal margin to 3-2 in the 90th minute with Dev Narayan Chaudhary scoring with a header.

Both Nepal and the Maldives lost to hosts Bangladesh and beat debutante Bhutan in earlier group games. The Maldives would have made the semifinals with just a draw on goal difference.