Chittagong, Sylhet move into semis

The stage for the semifinal of the U-18 National Football Championship was set yesterday after Chittagong and Sylhet moved into the last-four battle from Group B.

Chittagong emerged as group champions with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Barisal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Badsha had given Barisal the lead in the first half, but Atiqur Rahman and Jamir Uddin's strikes in the second half saw them set a date against Dhaka in the semis.

In the day's other match, Sylhet staged a comeback to play out a 1-1 draw against Satkhira at the same venue, securing the group's second spot. Satkhira could have finished as champions if they won, but they were booted from the title race as Abu Bakar equalised from the spot in the 86th minute after Habibur Rahman had given Satkhira a well-deserved lead in the 29th minute.

Sylhet will face Group A champions BKSP in Sunday's first semifinal.