Bangladesh advanced to the final of the SAFF U-19 Championship for the second consecutive time, after a 2-1 victory against Nepal in the first semi-final of the six-team tournament at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal Pradesh, India on Friday.聽
After the barren first half, defender Ashikur Rahman put Bangladesh ahead in the 73rd minute and captain and midfielder Nazmul Huda Faysal extended the lead in the 81st minute
Nepalese forward Sujan Dangol pulled one goal back in the 87th minute.
In the final on Sunday, defending champions Bangladesh will play against the winners of the second semifinal between India and Maldives.
Bangladesh displayed buildup play from the beginning to the end, creating chances by holding ball possession.
Nepal aimed for success through defence and quick counter-attacks and kept their post intact until Ashikur managed to deceive his marker, Lacchu Thapa, heading the ball home from a corner on the left by Faysal.
Faysal poked the ball into the net from the top of the six-yard box after a well-tricky cross provided by substitute forward Md Manik, who dodged two defenders inside the box to assist Faysal.
Sujan reduced the margin for Nepal with a right-footed drive from the box after a cross by defender Madan Paudel from the right side.聽
Bangladesh keeper Ismail Hossain Mahin played a tremendous role with three crucial saves in either half of the game.聽
Bangladesh coach Golam Rabbani Choton was pleased with his charges鈥� performances, he said, 鈥橳he players were able to execute the game plan on the field and secured the win鈥n the final, we will take the field to win it.鈥櫬�
鈥榃e utilised the gap (for preparation) that we got after the group stage matches. We set the plan after watching the India-Nepal (group stage) match,鈥� said coach at the post-match press conference.聽聽
Earlier, Bangladesh reached the semi-finals as the Group A champions with a 2-2 draw against Maldives before beating Bhutan 3-0 in the group stage.