Nepal qualified for the semi-finals of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup finishing runners-up to Bangladesh after playing a goalless draw with the hosts at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday.
Nepal qualified for the semi-finals of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup finishing runners-up to Bangladesh after playing a goalless draw with the hosts at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday.
Nepal were already assured of the last four berth after Sri Lanka defeated Malaysian top-tier side Felda United 2-1 in an early game. The match provided an opportunity for both teams to prove their league stage supremacy and Bangladesh topped Group ‘A’ on superior goal difference. The hosts were tied on five points with Nepal.
Sri Lanka finished third with three points after their only victory in the tournament, while Felda finished winless with two points from two draws. Nepal will take on yet-to-be-decided Group ‘B’ winners, either the U-23 teams from Maldives or Bahrain, in the semi-finals on January 19.
Bangladesh dominated the first 25 minutes. Hemonta Biswas took the ball from midfield into the danger area but his shot was brilliantly blocked by goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu in the 12th minute.
Nepal had their first chance when Bimal Gharti Magar was fouled inside the area in the 26th minute. Aditya Chaudhary took the freekick but his powerful shot went straight to the Bangladesh goalkeeper Ashraful Rana.
If the opening stages of the first half belonged to Bangladesh, Nepal dominated the first 25 minutes of the second half but lacked a proper attack on target. Unmarked Gurung had all the time and space to score when he received a cross from Rabin Shrestha right in front of the area but the midfielder fired wildly.
Bangladesh also had a few chances but Kuthu was at his best to keep Nepal in the game. In a counter-attack, Hemonto came charging in from right flank to feed unmarked Shekhawat Hussain Rony but Kuthu smartly intercepted the ball in the 58th minute.
In the dying moments of the match, Kuthu denied a certain goal for Bangladesh with a diving save to keep out Jamal Bhuyan’s powerful shot from the area.
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