Bangladesh emerge group runners-up

Bangladesh completed Group A runners-up to reach the semifinal of the SAFF U-20 Championship losing to hosts Nepal by 1-2 goals at the ANFA complex in Lalitpur on Thursday, reports UNB.
After the match, Nepal emerged Group A champions to qualify for the semis with all-win run securing full six points from straight two matches while Bangladesh finished group runners-up with three points from two matches.
Bangladesh will play the semifinal on Sunday (August 26) against the winners of India and the Maldives.
Bangladesh, which assured the semifinal berth earlier from the group beating Sri Lanka by 2-0 goals last Tuesday, needed just a draw against Nepal on Thursday to be the group champions, but miserably conceded two quick goals in span of only two minutes in the first half.
Bangladeshi custodian Mehdi Hasan Srabon, who was standing near midfield when Bangladesh taking a corner kick, was fully responsible for conceding goal in the 16th minute.
Over advanced Srabon tried to foil Nepalese counter attack in the midfield but failed and Nepalese forward Samir Tamang did not face any trouble to score the first goal beating Bangladesh custodian (1-0).
Two minutes later, Niranjan Dhami doubled the Nepalese margin (2-0) by a good shot giving no chance to Srabon.
After conceding two quick goals, Bangladesh coach Maruful Haque made two chances in their line up and later took its fruit.
Mirajul reduced the Bangladesh margin scoring a goal in the 43rd minute from a penalty (2-1) but finally failed to change the fate of the match.
In the second half, both the teams tried their best to score goal but failed.