Bangladesh in semis beating Maldives 3-1

Bangladesh confirmed a semifinal berth of the 3rd SAFF Women's Football Championship 2014 beating Maldives 3-1 in the third and last league match at the Jinnah Football Stadium in Islamabad, Pakistan Monday, reports UNB.

In the day's match, Maynu Marma fired the net first for Bangladesh in the 18th minute while Sabina Khatun doubled the margin in the 35th minute (2-0).

Aishath Sama of Maldives reduced the margin scoring a goal in the 84th minute (2-1) while Sabina scored her second goal in the 87th minute to take the Bangladesh tally to 3-1.

In the semi-finals on November 19, Bangladesh will face Nepal at 10 am (Pakistan time) while all-win India will meet Sri Lanka at 1:30 pm (Pakistan time) at the same venue.

Earlier, Bangladesh beat Afghanistan 6-1 in the first match while lost to defending champions India 1-5 in the second match.

India defeated Maldives 8-0 in the first match, Bangladesh 5-1 and hammered Afghanistan 12-0.

The final match will be held on November 21.

Pakistan Television (PTV) will telecast live the semifinals and final.

Eight SAARC member countries, split into two groups, took part in the third edition of the championship.

Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan and Maldives are placed in group A while Group B comprises Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

In the last two editions of the championship, Bangladesh reached the semifinals at Cox's Bazar in 2010 while they were eliminated from the group stage in Sri Lanka in 2012.