Nepal will take on first edition´s runner-up India in the final on Tuesday at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. Nepal had thrashed Bangladesh 5-1 in the first semifinal of the tournament on Saturday. Afghanistan and Bangladesh will face each other in the third-place play-off on Tuesday. [break]
The second semifinal played at the Army Sports Academy, Lagankhel was decided on penalties after the regulation time ended in a goalless draw.
India won the match 4-3 in the tie-breaker as Afghanistan player Rezahi Mortaza´s deciding spot-kick hit the crossbar. Krishna Pandit´s first spot-kick sailed over the bar but Bedashwor Singh, captain Prosenjit Chakroborty, Surya Tirkey and Aaron Franklyn converted their penalties for India.
Atiqulallah Waziri and Nasar Ahmad Nekzad converted the first two penalties for Afghanistan but skipper Said Jalal Hussaini shot wide. Sardari Amanullah netted the fourth to give hope to Afghanistan but it all vanished when Mortaza was denied by the crossbar.
India coach Gautam Ghosh said his team put up an improved show throughout the match. "Luck favors those who labor hard. My boys labored hard and we achieved the victory in tie-breaker," said Ghosh.
Ghosh claimed that the final against Nepal would obviously be exciting. "Nepal has been playing well. They are a good side. Their striker Bimal Gharti Magar is good. We´ll work hard against them," said Ghosh. "We are here to teach our players. I know there will be a huge crowd in the stadium supporting Nepal. I want the same. I want my players to play in front of such a crowd so that they can learn to play in such conditions," he added.
Earlier, both the teams failed to produce goals despite creating a few chances on either side. India goalkeeper Deeraj S Moirangthem saved a shot by Nasar Ahmad in a pass from Aliahmad Mansory in the 33rd minute.
At the other end, Afghanistan goalkeeper Mohammad Hossain Rasuli saved a shot from Indian captain Chakroborty in the injury time of the first half. In the 84th minute Rasuli denied Tirkey to take the match to penalties.
Afghanistan coach Waheedullan Wahedi said his team could not score despite putting pressure on the opponent. "We failed to convert the chances in the first half. India improved in the second half. It was our bad luck that the match went to tie-breaker," said Wahedi.
The Afghanistan coach said his team would go for a win in the third-place play-off against Bangladesh.
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