Nepal beat BD 4-2

Kathmandu, August 25: Despite a two goal flurry of forward Faisal Ahmed Fahim in two minutes in the second half, Bangladesh U-15 lost to hosts Nepal 4-2 in the first semi final of the ‘SAFF U15 Championship 2017’ at the ANFA Complex, Kathmandu on Friday.

Nepal went ahead in the 5th minute with forward Akash Budha Magar scoring from a close range following a quick counter attack (1-0).

Akash Budha Magar was on target again in the half hour mark putting his team on a two goal cushion with a solo effort (2-0).

Nepal went 3-0 up in the 64th minute with Bangladesh defender Najmul Biswas scoring an own goal failing to clear a cross of Nepalese midfielder Karlos Bakariya.

However, the young Bengal Tigers refused to bow down and two strikes from promising forward Faisal Ahmed Fahim pulled Bangladesh back into the game.

Fahim curled a left footer toe-pocked by a midfielder into near post net with a precise effort in the 72nd minute (3-1).

The following minute, Miraj Molla danced down the right flank and entered the Nepalese box dribbling past his marker, his close range shot slipped away from the gloves of Nepalese goalie Ranjan Pun and Fahim tapped the ball in (3-2).

Bangladesh, spurred by the two quick strikes piled up pressure on the Nepalese defence with an all-out attacking approach but still the equalizer was on the bay.

In the last minute of six minutes added time, Bangladesh conceded the fourth as Nepalese forward Brijesh Chowdhury scored off a quick counter attack (4-2).

Bangladesh will now come home to ponder what went wrong in their game and Nepal will play in the final of this year’s SAFF Championship 2017 on August 27.