KATHMANDU, August 23: Bangladesh has advanced to the semifinals of the ongoing SAFF U-15 Championship as a group winner defeating Bhutan 3-0 in its second group stage match on Tuesday.
With a win over Bhutan at ANFA Complex, Bangladesh accumulated six points from two matches in group A. Likewise; Bhutan acquired three points from two matches while Maldives has already crashed out from the championship.
Mohamed Miraj Molla scored a brace for Bangladesh while Mohamed Foysal Amhed Fahim added another goal for winning team.
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Fahim scored an opening goal for Bangladeshi team in the 25th minute while Molla extended the lead by 2-0 in the 52nd minute. Molla scored his personal second and Bangladesh’s last goal in the 81st minute.
After guiding his team to the last four Bangladesh’s coach Mostofa Anowar said that his players executed the plan perfectly to register win against Bhutan. “No opponent is easy. My strategy against the team worked out well. Like in the previous match, we had several goal scoring chance, but we could not capitalize on them.”
Bhutan’s coach Sonjun Lee expressed satisfaction over the performance of his players despite facing defeat.
“I am satisfied with the performance. My players their best against Bangladeshi team which is quite physically stronger than us,” said Lee.
He also said that he would prefer to face Nepal in the semifinals. “India and Nepal are both a strong team. However, we would like to face home team Nepal in the semifinal because it will be wonderful experience for my players to face opponent who is playing at its home ground,” concluded Lee.
Host team Nepal and championship favorite India will compete on Wednesday which will decide the group B winner. The group B winner will take on group A runner-up Bhutan in the semifinal match on Friday. Likewise in other semifinal clash to be played on the same day will see group B runner-up facing group A winner Bangladesh.
