India and Bhutan progressed into the semi-finals of the SAFF U-20 Championship from Group B after the Blue Tigers defeated the Maldives 1-0 in their final group match at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Friday.

Manglenthang Kipgen scored in the fifth minute of the stoppage time for India.

The outcome means, India topped Group B with six points and will face Group A runners-up Bangladesh in the semi-finals.

Bhutan, on three points, qualified as group runners-up. The Maldives exited the competition after two straight losses.

Bhutan’s semi-final opponents will be hosts Nepal, who won Group A after defeating both their opponents Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the group stage.

The Maldives were in a must win situation following their 2-1 loss against Bhutan but could not really threaten India, who needed only a draw, throughout the game.

Maldives goalkeeper Mohamed Yaameen was perhaps the busiest on the pitch, keeping the frequent Indian attack at bay and making up for defending mistakes.

But India, too, were not at their best and wasteful on many occasions.

India should have taken the lead early when Maldives defender Mohamed Aiham Anwar’s poor attempt to clear a cross from Korou Singh Thingu fell in the path of Monirul Molla, who only needed to tap but failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

India had another clear chance in the 22nd minute. Thingu was the creator again as he sprinted towards the opposition half, cut inside and set up for Molla but Maldives goalie Yaameen came to the rescue with a quick reflex save.

The Maldives built up some pressure after the break but could never trouble the Indian goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey.

India came close to goal in the 78th minute when Mohamed Aiham Anwar and Ahmed Nawaf Fauzy failed to clear a cross from Ricky Meetei Haobam but Yameen kept the Maldives breathing with his quick thinking.

It was all India in the final minutes and Yaameen had to come to rescue for defending mistakes twice.

But the goalie was finally undone by Kipgen, whose low shot from outside the area managed to sneak into the bottom corner despite a full-stretch effort from Yaameen.