Maldives, Nepal qualify for semifinal

NEW DELHI: Maldives whipped top-ranked Bangladesh 3-1 in their last group B match to advance into the semifinals of SAFF Championship football at the Nehru Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Runners-up in the last edition in Dhaka in 2009, Maldives made their intentions clear when they shot into the lead in the sixth minute after Ahmed Tariq headed home a Mohammad Umair cross.Tariq added his second in the 17th minute after he was put through by skipper Ali Ashfaq.
Ashfaq, the livewire in Maldives attack, buttressed the lead in the 70th minute after the bearded striker hoodwinked the flat-footed Bangladeshi, ran a few yards following a counter-attack and then dodged past goalkeeper Sahidul Alam to knock the ball home. Bangladesh, who have failed to impress in the championship, pulled one back after Shahedul Alam Shahed chipped the ball over goalkeeper Imran Mohammad following a corner in the 29th minute.
Nepal win: Earlier, Nepal became the first team from group B to book a place in the semifinal after their 1-1 draw against Pakistan, who bowed out after three draws in as many matches.
A first half strike by man of the match Bharat Khawas was cancelled out by Samar Ishaq's spot-kick in the second half after Sandip Rai fouled Kaleemullah. Nepal's best-ever finish in the regional event came in 1993 when they finished third.