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 14^th 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 27^th 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 43^rd 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 58^th 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 84^th 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.