Sports Reporter:
Bangladesh Under-19 Football team reached the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship defeating Nepal Under-19 Football team 2-1 in the semi-final at Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal Province of India on Friday.
After a barren first half, Ashiqur Rahman put his team ahead by a header (1-0) using a volley of Najmul Huda in the 73rd minute of the play.
Najmul Huda made it 2-0 by a spectacular shot in the 80th minute of the match.
Sujon Dangol of Nepal reduced the margin in the 86th minute of the game.
Bangladesh will play in the final on Sunday at the same venue.
The winners of the second semi-final between India and Maldives will play in the final.
Nepal got the first chance in the 17th minute of the match but goalkeeper Ismail Hossain saved his team from danger.
After five minutes Rifat Kazi entered the D-box of Nepal but he failed to find the net. Rifat got the ball on his way from a through pass of his teammate Najmul Huda.
In the 33rd minute, Morshed Ali’s free-kick narrowly passed away the Nepal’s goalbar.
After three minutes, Najmmul Huda’s forceful shot was saved by Nepal goalie Vakta Bahadur.
Bangladesh drew with Maldives 2-2 in their first Group-A match at the same venue on May 9.
Bangladesh blanked Bhutan 3-0 in their second Group-A match at the same venue on May 11.
The red-and-green outfit emerged the champions in the Group-A collecting four points from two matches.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh are the defending champions of the SAFF Under-19 Championship, the most prestigious football meet for the youngsters of the South Asian Region.
