Hosts need a draw

The Bangladesh national football team will be looking to get into their full rhythm to ensure their semifinal berth when they take on a youthful Nepal in their group's third and final match of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.

The match will get underway at 6:30pm after Malaysia XI take on winless Sri Lanka at 3:00pm at the same venue.

Bangladesh and Nepal are on the top of the four-team table with equal four points from two outings but the hosts are in an advantageous position on better goal difference and a draw against Nepal is enough for the home side to move into the last four.

Defending champions Malaysia with two points from as many outings must need an outright victory over already-eliminated Sri Lanka to qualify for the semifinals from Group A but a draw between two sides will put both Bangladesh and Nepal into the semifinals before the second match kicks off.

Bangladesh were in trouble with their inconsistent performance but they dominated Sri Lanka in the tournament opener with a scintillating performance, especially in the first half of the game. In very next match they put up a dismal performance against Malaysia, who are being represented by a club team, FELDA United FC, and made their semifinal berth tough playing out a 1-1 draw.

The charges of Maruful Haque could not meet the expectation in the last two matches as all three departments failed to perform altogether. The defenders though did comparatively well against Malaysia but the strikers, who were excellent against Sri Lanka, were totally anonymous throughout the game against Malaysia.

There were also something missing in the midfield comprising Mamunul Islam, Jamal Bhuiyan, Zahid Hossain and Hemanta Vincent Biswas but there was one thing to be satisfied with the tremendous performance of new goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana.

Coach Maruful will certainly expect his charges to come up with a better performance and fire all cylinders against Nepal and fulfil the target to qualify for the semifinals.  

Marful's counterpart, Nepal coach Bal Gopal Maharjan is also optimistic to qualify for the semifinals and believes his boys are ready to take on the challenge.

“It will be a tough match for us because Bangladesh will be playing on home ground. But I think both sides have a 50-50 chance to qualify for the semifinals and we are hopeful to win the match,” said Maharjan.

Nevertheless, Nepal's 1-0 win over Sri Lanka after 28 months will come as a tonic to post another international win and young striker Biman Gharti Magar said that they are fully focused on the match against Bangladesh.