Hosts win group A
Dhaka, January 15: Bangladesh emerged as the champions of
group A in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup with a goalless draw against Nepal at the
Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday.
The draw saw Bangladesh and Nepal both earn five points but
a better goal difference saw Bangladesh top the group with Nepal finishing
runners-up. Both the teams qualified for the semis earlier.
Bangladesh opened the Nepal defence in the 14th
minute with Jamal Bhuiyan curving a cross to forward Shakhawat Hossain Rony
whose left footed drive was fisted away by Nepali goalie Bikesh Khutu.
Nepal hit back with a series of counter attacks and in the
27th minute earned a free kick at the top of the box, Aditya
Chowdhury, the Nepalese defender curled the ball straight to the hands of
Bangladesh goalie Ashraful Islam Rana.
In the 43rd
minute Bangladesh midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan generated pace on a corner flown by
Mamunul Islam but the goalbound ball deflected off the feet of his teammate Nabib
Newaj Jibon.
Bangladesh midfielder Hemanta Vincent generated a good pace
in the right flank in the 58th minute, his neat through however was
cleared by Nepalese goalie Bikash Kuthu with forward Rony felling short by a
yard.
Bangladesh looked a little tired in the late minutes while
Nepal took the initiative however lack of finishing saw them searching for the
goal.
In the 84th minute Rony fed by Monaem Khan Raju
blasted over the crosspiece from the middle of the box.
The first semifinal will be held on January 18 and the second one on 19th.