0
Bangladesh 1 Maldives 0
Nepal 2 Bhutan 0
DHAKA, Jan 13: Hosts Bangladesh have assured themselves a place in the semifinal thanks to a last-minute goal by Arif Khan as they scrambled past a dogged and determined Maldives in a Group B clash of the South Asian Football Federation soccer championship on Monday.
This was Bangladesh’s second successive 1-0 victory. Earlier the home team had edged out Nepal. Even a draw or a shock defeat against winless Bhutan will not prevent them from securing a berth in the semifinal from Group B.
In an earlier encounter Nepal who needed a victory to remain on course for a slot in the semifinal beat lowly Bhutan 2-0. Niranjan Ryamajhi (16th minutes) and Kumar Thapa (90th minute) ensured win.
Nepal now face Maldives in the crucial last encounter of group B and a defeat for either will mean exit from the competition.
P W D L F A Pts
GROUP A
Pakistan 2 2 0 0 3 1 6
India 2 1 0 1 4 1 3
Sri Lanka 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
Afghanistan 2 0 0 2 0 5 0
GROUP B
Bangladesh 2 2 0 0 2 0 6
Maldives 2 1 0 1 6 1 3
Nepal 2 1 0 1 2 1 3
Bhutan 2 0 0 2 0 8 0
Remaining fixtures: Jan 14 Afghanistan v Pakistan; India v Sri Lanka
Semifinals: January 18 A1 v B2 B1 v A2
January 20 Third-place play off; Final—Reuters
