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