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| December 13, 2005 | Tuesday | Ziqa’ad 10, 1426 |
SAFF Soccer: Bangladesh to face hosts in semifinal
Bangladesh 1…………….India 1
Nepal 3…………………..Bhutan 1
KARACHI, Dec 12: Zahid Hasan Ameli’s opportunist strike helped Bangladesh become Group ‘B’ champions on better goal average after a 1-1 draw with ten-man India in SAFF soccer championship at People’s Sports Complex on Monday.
After the group matches conclusion, Group ‘A’ runners-up Pakistan will face defending champions Bangladesh in the semifinals, while India will take on Group ‘A’ champions Maldives on Wednesday.
Bangladeshis might have gone into the field with a psychological edge of being the title-holders, it was the three-time champions India who mostly dominated the game, especially in the first half.
The Indians began aggressively, but their star striker Baichung Bhutia was yellow carded for rough play with the game barely three minutes old.
Bangladesh goalkeeper Biplob Bhattacharjee had no difficulty in taking N.S. Manju’s effort on a Surkumar Singh corner in the 16th minute.
India deservedly went ahead through Climax Lawrence shot from within the box past Bhattacharjee, cashing in on a defensive lapse in the 18th minute. India got their second booking in the 32nd minute when Mehraj Uddin was yellow carded.
Bhutia made his presence felt five minutes later with a brilliant run before back-heeling in the box to S. Venka Tesh who missed the sitter.
After making several inroads deep into Bangladesh half, India scrambled back into their own half in the 40th minute. Abul Hossain of Bangladesh made a fine dribbling run and dodged past a defender to test from 16 yards the Indian goalkeeper Sandip Nandy who brought off a fine save.
While the Indians were still trying for the second goal, they were reduced to ten men when Mehraj was red carded for dissent by referee Hettikamkanamge.
The Indians started the second period with a 20-yard M. Suresh drive that grazed the crossbar in the 51st minute.
Bangladesh mounted some pressure on the Indians but failed to equalise and wasted a good opportunity when Mehdi Hassan Uzzal tried to set up Shahaj Uddin despite being in a better position to score in the 60th minute.
Uzzal looked dangerous, this time breezing past a defender before challenging Nandy who was vigilant under the bar.
It was in the midway into second half that Bangladeshis started taking advantage of Mehraj’s absence to grab the leveller. Uzzal, who was constantly menacing the Indian defences, squared a perfect long ball to Zahid who swept it past Nandy in the 78th minute.
Uzzal was now operating down the left freely and once again threatened Indians with a rising shot which Nandy easily dealt with.
The game saw two more attacks from Bangladesh in the closing minutes, Alfaz Ahmed’s try sailed over the bar in the 90th minute while Uzzal’s 30-yard injury-time attempt was well taken by Nandy.
Earlier, Nepal had their first success when they outplayed Bhutan 3-1.
Surendra B. Tamang opened the scoring for Nepal with a 10th-minute strike followed by a Basanta K. Thapa goal six minutes later.
Nepal completed their tally with a Bijay Gurang header that came off a Tamang pass in the 29th minute.
Bikhash Pradhan got the consolation goal which was the first one netted by Bhutan since the tournament started last Wednesday.
Tuesday will be rest day. The semifinals will be played on Wednesday.
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