India 3 Bhutan 0

Bangladesh 2 Nepal 0

KARACHI, Dec 10: Three times champions India reached the SAFF soccer championship semifinals after an unimpressive 3-0 victory over Bhutan at People’s Sports Complex on Saturday.

The Indians who had started their campaign with a lacklustre performance after a narrow 2-1 win over minnows Nepal were never in total command.

Although star striker Baichung Bhutia scored his first goal of the tournament, he still looked rusty.

After struggling for 43 minutes, Indian finally drew blood through a Bhutia header. The Indians went 2-0 up through a Mahesh Gawli header past Bhutan goalkeeper Jigme Singye taking an advantage of defensive lapse five minute into second session.

Substitute Abdul Hakim came off the bench in the second half to score the third with another header in the 66th minute, beating Singye all ends up.

The Indians missed a number of sitters as Steven Benedict backpassed only to see Ajayan K. N missing the target two minutes later.

Bhutia gave a through pass and Hakim found the net in the 70th minute but referee Perera Dilan ruled him offside.

Indians lost another promising opening when Bhutia charged after collecting a pass near box but slammed the ball straight into the hands of Singye.

Later, Bangladesh defeated Nepal 2-0 to complete the semifinal line-up.

Defending champions Bangladesh got off to an aggressive start and were on the attack from the outset.

Ariful Kabir Farhad tormented the Nepalese defences in the seventh minute when he raced down the left before cutting in right and sending an angular shot that went across the face of the goal with no one to put the ball into the net.

Bangladesh continued to press forward and Mohammad Arman sent a curling free kick that landed on the roof of the net. Arman tested the goalkeeper Upendra Man Singh with a 20 yard drive that was well taken by the custodian.

Rokonuzzaman Kanchan eventually opened the scoring in the 28th minute after a defensive lapse when a Motiur Rahman cross was deflected off a defender’s heel in the box. Kanchan got his double in the 86th minute following a Farhad cross.

Sunday’s fixtures: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan 3.15pm; Maldives v Pakistan at 6.00pm.