Nepal failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage and lost 2-1 to 10-man Bangladesh in the SAFF U-15 Championship football tournament at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Monday.

In the match between teams already qualified for the semi-finals, the result puts Bangladesh on top of their Group ‘A’ and play Group ‘B’ runners-up India for a place in the final. Nepal will be up against the Group ‘B’ winners Pakistan. Both the semi-finals are slated for Wednesday.

Md Ibne Ahad Sakil put Bangladesh ahead early in the second minute but Jaan Limbu pulled back an equaliser in the 36th minute through a penalty. However, Md Rajon Howladar sealed the victory scoring the second immediately after the break. Bangladesh wrapped up their group games on maximum six points from two matches.

“We were poor in finishing and even failed to make the numerical advantage count,” Nepal coach Sanoj Shrestha said. “We repeated the same mistakes that we made against Maldives. Repeating it again in the semi-finals will be fatal,” said the Nepal coach. He also blamed the poor defence for conceding the goals. Shrestha’s counterpart Mostofa Anowar Parvez lauded his players for executing the team plan to perfection. “After falling one man short, we defended with determination and held on to protect the lead,” said Parvez.

Bangladeshi midfielder Sakile was left unmarked in the area to allow him a free header to score following a perfectly timed freekick from skipper Mohammad Mahedi Hasan. The early goal appeared to wake Nepali players from their slumber and the home team had a first sniff at a goal in the 21st minute. But Namas Thapa Magar agonisingly failed to connect a close range header on a Sanam Gurung cross. Nepal survived a scare seven minutes later when Howladar’s scorcher rattled on the woodwork.

Bangladesh were reduced to 10-men when referee Harish Kundu sent off Bangladeshi goalkeeper Mitul Marma for tripping the last man Rakesh Biswokarma inside the area. Limbu stepped in to take the spot kick and converted it to level the scores.

However, Bangladesh took less than a minute after the interval to retain the lead as Howaldar slammed home a well-placed shot at the far on a Sakil pass. Nepal dominated the ball possession but rarely threatened the Bangladeshi post.  The one opportunity that came their way went begging in the 54th minute as Sanam Gurung was too slow to react a perfect pass from Biswakarma.

In the day’s early match, a brace from Paul Shubho guided India to a 4-0 victory over Bhutan to secure a semi-final berth as Group ‘B’ runners-up. Shubho opened scoring in the fourth minute and Kushang doubled their advantage in the 66th. Shubho made it 3-0 in the 83rd before susbstitute Xalxo Aman sealed the victory with another goal in the 90th minute.