India in last four

Holders India moved into the semifinals of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Sri Lanka in their last Group A match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

After a barren first half, youngster Ashim Biswas shot India ahead in the 88th minute, but it took only two minutes for the islanders to level the score through Abeysekera.

Both teams finished with four points yet India moved ahead on better goal difference. Finished runners-up from Group A, Indians are likely to face hosts Bangladesh, who have already confirmed their berth in the semifinals.

In the day's first match, Pakistan ended their the first round campaign with an all-win record when they beat neighbours Afghanistan 1-0.

Table-toppers Pakistan were first to reach the last four having won their Group A matches against bitter-rivals India and Sri Lanka. Both the seminals will be held on January 18.

With the semifinal place at stake, the two teams opted not to take chances in the first half of the match that was marked with rough tackling and scuffles.

Sri Lanka however could have gone ahead in the very second minute of the match when midfielder Azmeer got the ball inside the danger area from a long throw. But his powerful shot ricocheted off the crosspiece.

The match came to life when Ashim sprang to tap the ball home after Lankan custodian Devinda could only parry a 30-yard drive from IM Vijayan into the path of the opportunist striker from Kolkata.

But two minutes before the final whistle substitute Abeysekera started a brilliant run down the left flank before unleashing an angular shot that sank the spirit of the Indians.

The fate of the other semifinalists from Group B hinges on the result of the match between Nepal and Maldives today. Bangladesh will play their inconsequential last league match against Bhutan, also today.

Yellow cards: Ashim Biswas, Debjit Ghosh, Sameer Naik (India) and Weerasinghe, Jayasiriya, Mohideen (Sri Lanka).

TEAMS

India: Rajat (Virender), Renedy Singh (Subhash), Jo Paul Ancheri, Ashim Biswas, Debjit Ghosh, Alvoti (Abhishek), Fernandes, Sameer Naik, IM Vijayan and Climax Lawrence.

Sri Lanka: Devinda, Steinwall, Azmeer, Fuard, Prabath (Perera), Weerasinghe (Abeysekera), Channa, Jayasiriya, S Silva, Mohideen and Hamsa.

Referee: Tayeb Hasan (Bangladesh).