Bangladesh, Nepal thru to the semis after goal-less draw

Bangladesh football team moved to the semi-final of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup 2016 as the Group-A champion after a goal-less draw against Nepal in the final Group-A match held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka this evening.

Both the teams confirmed the semis after Sri Lanka beat Felda United FC from Malaysia 2-1 in the other Group-A match held this afternoon at the same venue. Bangladesh, however, moved to the top of the group being ahead of Nepal with a superior goal difference.  

The match saw plenty of action as both sides played without pressure and aopted for attacking football. The hosts dominated the possession and had more shots on goal, while the Nepalese had their moments too, but neither of the sides managed to put the ball at the back of the opposition’s net.

Earlier, hosts Bangladesh began the tournament with a winning note by comprehensively beating Sri Lanka 4-2 at the Shamsul Huda Stadium in Jessore on January 8 and later salvaged a 1-1 draw against Felda United FC from Malaysia on January 13.

Moving on to the semis will boost the hosts as they were under tremendous pressure ahead of the match after being humiliated and dumped from the group stages of the SAFF Suzuki Cup.

The Bangabandhu Cup or Bangabandhu Gold Cup is an international association football tournament organised by the Bangladesh Football Federation as a tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It was launched in 1996. This will be the fourth time the tournament has been held. Eight teams from Asian Football Confederation are participating in this year’s edition.