Bangladesh face Nepal in SAFF Cup mission

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 13:24, Sep 08, 2018 | Updated : 13:24, Sep 08, 2018

Bangladesh are facing Nepal on Saturday to lock a place in the semi-finals of the seven-nation SAFF Suzuki Cup 2018.

The boys in red and green will need a draw to move while for the Himalayan country it’s a must-win game.

The match begins at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka begins at 7pm. 

Bangladesh are now at the top of Group A with six points from their two wins — 2-0 against Bhutan and 1-0 against Pakistan.

Nepal’s SAFF mission started with a 1-2 defeat against Pakistan before it thrashed Bhutan 4-0.

In the day’s other match, set to start at 4pm, Pakistan and Bhutan are facing each other.

If Pakistan is beaten by Bhutan, Bangladesh will reach semifinals, even if suffer a loss against Nepal.

If Pakistan can manage a win against Bhutan, Bangladesh will need at least a draw against Nepal to confirm its last-four berth.

Bangladesh coach Jamie Day, however, said the team aims to the top spot in the group with three wins.

“We aim to win just like the last two matches,” he said on Friday during the Bangladesh team’s practice session at the Kamalapur stadium.

Describing Nepal as a strong opponent, Day said “They might emerge as a threat to us. They have played well against Pakistan and defeated Bhutan by 4 goals.”

In the last three editions of SAFF, Bangladesh exited from the group stage.

Bangladesh are hosting the event for the third time after 2003 and 2009, since its inception in 1993.

The hosts had a successful campaign in 2003 with a 1(5)-1(3) win in a penalty shootout against the Maldives in the final at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

/zmi/
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