Nepal made sure they entered into the semi-finals of the SAFF U-20 Championship as group winners as they defeated Bangladesh 2-1 at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur on Thursday.

Samir Tamang and Nirajan Dhami scored two quick goals for Nepal in the first half, which sealed the victory for the Gorkhalis.

Two wins in as many matches gave Nepal six points and a summit finish in Group A. They will face the runners-up of Group B in the last four at the Dasharath Stadium.

India will meet the Maldives in the last match of Group B on Friday.

India and Bhutan have three points each. The Maldives lost their opening match to Bhutan 2-1 on Wednesday. However, Bhutan will be secretly praying that the Maldivians lose against India so that they could qualify for their third semi-finals.

The Maldives will progress into the knockouts if they defeat defending champions India, who are also the winners of the last three editions of the championship.

Both Nepal and Bangladesh were already assured of their places in the last four after winning their opening group games against Sri Lanka, who crashed out after two consecutive defeats.

Nepal started the game confidently and got to work right away with the lead after 17 minutes, thanks to a howler from Bangladesh captain and goalkeeper Md Mehdi Hasan Srabon.

Srabon had come far off the post, and with no immediate threats surrounding him, the goalkeeper only had a simple job of taking care of an incoming ball coming from the other end. But the overconfident goalie took the moment too lightly that allowed Tamang to sprint between two unaware defenders, seize possession of the ball off the helpless Srabon and score into an empty net.

And when Bangladesh had not even finished thinking how glaring their mistake was, their plight doubled as Mohsin Ahmed’s attempt to stay clear of a cross from Abinash Syangtan went into his own post.

Bangladesh’s first attempt at goal came in the 27th minute when Md Ashraful Haque Asif arrowed a venomous shot from distance but Nepal goalkeeper Jiyarat Shekh was alert and made a diving save to foil the effort.

Dhami had an opportunity to take his tournament goal tally to three in the 36th minute, but his header off a precise cross from Niraj Karki could not find the target.

Bangladesh reduced the deficit in the 43rd minute through a penalty kick that was awarded to them after Ram Thapa and Ashwin Ghorasainee sandwiched Mirajul Islam and brought the opponent player down inside their own penalty area.

Mirajul stepped up and made no mistake from the spot kick.

The second half was largely a drab affair.

Despite conceding, Nepal were happy to sit back and defend after the restart.

But Bangladesh could not shake a strong Nepal defence until the final seconds of the five-minute stoppage time.

Md Rostom Islam Dukhu Mia’s header off a cross from Md Rabby Hossen Rahul almost snatched an equaliser but Nepal’s netkeeper Shekh stretched full length to preserve Nepal’s lead.

Coach Urjan Shrestha and Nepal are aiming to break India’s latest dominance in the championship by winning their third SAFF age-group championship trophy.