Maldives to face Pakistan in SemiFinal
DHAKA, Jan 15: **Maldives came from behind to score a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nepal in the crucial Group B match to earn the right to face Pakistan in the semi-finals of the South Asian Federation Football championship played on Wednesday.
In the other semi-final hosts Bangladesh will take on favourites and defending champions India. Both the semi-finals will be played on Jan 18. **
With the semi-final berth at stake Nepal took the lead in the 55th minute after a barren first half when Niranjan Rayamajhi scored an opportunist goal.
The lead was short lived and five minutes later Mohamed Nizam levelled the score and Ashraf Lutfy made it 2-1 in the 75th minute. Ali Umar virtually sealed the fate of the match with a superbly-taken strike in the 84th minute.
Dev Narayan reduced the margin in the last minute of the game but the goal came too late as Maldives deservedly held on to emerge victors.
Later in a match of only academic interests Bangladesh routed winless Bhutan 3-0 after leading 1-0 at half time. The win also ensured Bangladesh, like Pakistan, maintained their hundred percent record in the eight-team competition.
**Standings **
P W D L F A Pts
**GROUP A**
**Pakistan 3 3 0 0 4 1 9
India 3 1 1 1 5 2 4**
Sri Lanka 3 1 1 1 3 3 4
Afghanistan 3 0 0 3 0 6 0
**Pakistan and India qualify for the semi-finals
GROUP B**
**Bangladesh 3 3 0 0 5 0 9
Maldives 3 2 0 1 9 3 6**
Nepal 3 1 0 2 4 4 3
Bhutan 3 0 0 3 0 11 0
**Bangladesh and Maldives qualify for the semi-finals.
Remaining fixtures:
Jan 18: Semi-finals**
A1[Pakistan] v B2[Maldives]
B1[Bangladesh] v A2 [India]
**Final:** Jan 20
Third-place play off
Final-Reuters
Bangladesh 3 Bhutan 0
Nepal 2 Maldives 3
**Pakistan lost to Maldives in the semi final match by a score of 1-0. Ibrahim Fazeel scored the winner for Maldives. **
Maldives face Bangladesh in surprise SAFF final
DHAKA, Jan 18 (AFP) © 2003 AFP
Hosts Bangladesh and the Maldives on Saturday stormed into the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) tournament with surprise wins over tough rivals in two semifinals at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here.
Thousands of jubilant football fans, who had braved the chilly winter weather to watch the home side take on two-time champions India, erupted with joy when Motiur Rahman Munna headed in a spectacular golden goal in the 96th minute to secure Bangladesh’s place in the final.
Bangladesh, group ‘B’ champions, took time finding their form against group ‘A’ runners-up India but slowly got the upper hand, though missing three opportunities to score in the first half.
After a goalless first half, Bangladesh’s Rokonuzzaman Kanchan finally found the net in the 77th minute while Alvito D’ Chuna equalised just four minutes later with the result standing at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
The game pushed into extra time, which was again was dominated by the hosts, whose 96th minute golden goal secured victory.
In the day’s other semifinal, the Maldives surprised Pakistan as midfielder Ibrahim Fazeel scored the all-important goal in the 12th minute, when he volleyed in on off a corner kick taken by captain Mohammed Nizam.
The Maldives, runners-up in group ‘B,’ played well against group ‘A’ champions Pakistan in the first half, but went on the defensive in the second session.
Pakistan made some desperate attempts after halftime, but the equaliser proved evasive as they failed to convert chances created by the midfielders.
The Maldives and Bangladesh now clash Monday in the final of the regional football tournament, in which Afghanistan competed for the first time.
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This means Pakistan and India will clash for the third place.
India defeated Pakistan to clinch the third place in SAFF tournament. Both sides were drawn 1-1 in regulation with goals from Vijayan and Sarfaraz Rasool. Abhishek Yadav scored a golden goal in extra time to clinch the Indian victory.
Bangladesh clinch SAFF title in penalty shoot-out drama with Maldives
DHAKA, Jan 20 (AFP) © 2003 AFP
Bangladesh broke the hearts of the plucky Maldives Monday as they clinched the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) title in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Bangladesh keeper Aminul Islam was the side's hero when he saved the second penalty from the Maldives' Ashraf Lutfy while the home team converted all of their spot kicks in front of a raucous 46,000-capacity crowd at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The two sides had been drawn 1-1 after 90 minutes and there were no further goals in the ensuing half-an-hour of extra time.
Rokonuzzaman Kanchan had given Bangladesh an early lead in the 12th minute but the tiny Maldives struck back when Ali Umar finished off a sharp counter-attack in the 58th minute.
Two-time champions India had earlier finished third in the tournament after defeating arch rivals Pakistan 2-1 in the third-place play-off.
The Indians were defeated by Bangladesh on Saturday thanks to a golden goal by Motiur Rahman Munna.
The SAFF tournament also featured Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.