Dhaka, December 6: Maldives defeated Bangladesh by 3-1 goals in the last match of group B in the SAFF Championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on Tuesday.

With the win Maldives reached the semifinals with Nepal who drew 1-1 with Pakistan in the first match of the day. Bangladesh finished their SAFF Championship with one points from three matches. 

Maldives took the lead in the 7th minute as Mohammad Umair danced down the right flank and curved a low cross to unmarked Ahmed Tarik who beat goalie Shahidul Alam Sohel with a diving header.

Bangladesh conceded the second in the 17th minute with Maldives danger man Ali Ashfaq showing his prowess. The Maldives skipper went past the Bangladesh defence with a superb footwork and cut back for Tarik who just had to tap the ball in from handshaking distance.

Bangladesh piled up considerable pressure and Shahed pulled one back in the 29th minute. Nasir did all the hard work in the right flank and rolled the ball back to midfielder Shahed who beat Maldives goalie Imram Mohammed with delightful chip from the top of the box.

Bangladesh came back strong after the change of ends and saw Maldives pack their defence with almost all the players. Bangladesh went all out but all their efforts went in vein. Ali Ashfaq killed the game in the 70th minute with a speedy counterattack. Standing alone in the midfield the skillful forward kept his cool to go past Bangladesh defence line and onrushing Sohel before placing the ball into the empty net.

Shahed blasted the ball over from the middle of the box in the 77th minute and Abdul Baten Majumdar Komol’s head off a Towhid cross was fisted to safety by Maldives goalie Imran in the 79th minute.

Bangladesh drew goalless with Pakistan and lost to Nepal 1-0 in the second match of the group earlier.