Kathmandu, September 26
Nepal secured a place in the semifinals of the SAFF U-17 Championship with a 2-1 comeback win against the host nation Bhutan in the final group match on Wednesday.
In the Group B encounter held at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Krishna Bahadur Ale and Sujan Dangol scored in the second half, helping Nepal overcome Bhutan’s lead.
With this victory, Nepal accumulated six points from three matches, finishing as the runner-up in Group B to advance to the semifinals. Pakistan topped the group with seven points from two wins and a draw and has already secured a place in the semifinals.
Nepal will now face Group A winner India in the semifinal. India defeated both Bangladesh and the Maldives in Group A.
Bhutan initially took the lead in the match, but they could not hold on, allowing Nepal to stage an impressive comeback in the second half. In the 43rd minute, Bhutan’s Chimi Tobden Dorji capitalized on a mistake by Nepal’s goalkeeper Pemba Norbu Bhote to score the opening goal.
After trailing in the first half, Nepal responded with two goals in the second half. Krishna Bahadur Ale equalized in the 55th minute with a stunning free-kick from about 25 yards out. Then, in the 84th minute, Sujan Dangol scored to give Nepal a 2-1 lead.
This time, it was goalkeeper Bhote who redeemed himself, delivering a clever long pass that Bhutan’s defender failed to clear, allowing Sujan to volley the ball into the net from the opponent’s penalty box.
Nepal will take on India in the first semifinal on Saturday, while Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the other semifinal on the same day. The winners of the semifinals will compete in the final on Monday.
