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Bernard Perera reporting from Dhaka, Wednesday,

Maldives qualified to play in the semifinal of the 3rd SAFF soccer championship here in Dhaka when they defeated Nepal in their final game of the first round 3 goals to 2, of Bangabandha National Stadium.

Nepal and Maldives fought a hard battle in the first half and had to go back to the dressing room with a blank score card. Maldives got an opportunity to score when a penalty was awarded to them but the Nepali custodian thwarted the ball from reaching the net in the 43rd minute.

Coming in for the second session Nepalese found things easy for them. In the 15th minute Basantha Kumar Thapa's shot at the goal hit the upright and rebounded, Niranjan Rayanajhi who was well positioned picked up in quick time and smashed into the goal to put his team ahead.

This lead stood only five minutes when Channa Ram Chowdary sent in a good ball to Mohamad Nizam to net in the equaliser. Malebireswent further ahead when Ashraf Lufthy's header beat the custodian (few minute later Ali Umar scored the third for Maldives which gave them a clear lead - Nepalese stormed the goal area in an attempt to reduce the lead, this they achieved in the last minute. Dev Narayan Choudary headed the second for his team. The score reading at 3-2 in favour of Maldives, Thailand referee blew the final whistle.

The second game of the day between the hosts Bangladesh and Bhutan ended in a comfortable 3 goals to nil victory for hosts. Bangladesh led one goal to nil at lemons.

In the second half hosts added two more to their tally and qualified to play in the semifinal on Saturday.

Points Table

Group A P W D L GF GA Pts Pakistan 3 3 0 0 5 1 9 India 3 1 1 1 5 2 4 Sri Lanka 3 1 1 1 3 3 4 Afghanistan 3 0 0 3 0 5 0

Group B P W D L GF GA Pts Bangladesh 3 3 0 0 5 - 9 Maldives 3 2 - 1 9 3 6 Nepal 3 1 - 2 4 4 3 Bhutan 3 - - - 0 13 0

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