Bangladesh stormed into the semi-finals of the SAFF Under-19 Championship 2025 with a commanding 3-0 win over Bhutan in their Group A match at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal Pradesh, India, on Sunday.
Following a 2-2 draw against the Maldives in their first match on Friday, Golam Rabbani Choton鈥檚 side became the first team to confirm the last-four berth of the six-nation tournament, with four points from two games.
Bangladesh forward Mursed Ali scored the first goal and assisted the other two goals scored by forward Sumon Soran and captain and midfielder Nazmul Huda Faysal.
Bhutan showed great intent and tested Bangladesh goalkeeper Ismail Hossain three times within the first nine minutes, but it was Bangladesh, who took the lead in the 13th minute.聽
Faysal provided a through pass to Mursed, who dodged past two Bhutanese defenders inside the box and curled the ball home off the left post.
Despite conceding early, Bhutan maintained a high press, but Bangladesh made their opponent pay for the mistakes again in the 28th minute.聽
Soran doubled the lead with a right-footed drive from the box, capitalising on a poor clearance by Ngwang Yonten from a Mursed cross.
Bhutan came out strongly in the second half and came close in the 80th minute when substitute Tandin Phuntsho鈥檚 effort was denied by Ismail.
Bangladesh could have extended the lead in the 90th minute but their substitute forward Manik spoiled the chance when he needed only to beat Bhutan keeper Tandin Panjor inside the box.
Faysal scored the final goal at the dying moment if the sixth minute of stoppage time, as he scored from the top of the six-yard box after a cutback from Mursed.
鈥楾hanks to the boys for playing a fantastic game; they gave their best throughout the 90 minutes to earn three points鈥ow we will start planning for the semi-final,鈥� said Choton at the post-match press conference.聽
The top two teams from each group will play the semi-finals at the same venue on May 16. The final will take place on May 18.