U-20s end AFC qualifiers on winning note
Bangladesh ended their AFC U-20 Championship qualifying campaign on a winning note with an emphatic 3-0 defeat of Nepal in their final group match in Bahrain on Sunday.
Mojibor Jony struck the opener in the first half, followed closely by the second from Piash Ahmed before Sajed Hasan Nijum netted the third in the second half.
With two wins, one draw and one loss in four matches, Bangladesh finished third with seven points, equal with hosts Bahrain who however are ahead of Bangladesh by virtue of a better goal difference with a match in hand left against group leaders Qatar.
It is all but certain that Qatar, with nine points and Bahrain having secured seven points, will get through the qualification round if Bahrain do not suffer a big margin defeat at the hands of Qatar. Bangladesh have a goal difference of one while Bahrain currently have seven. In order to get through the group Bangladesh either had to be group champions or finish as one of five best group runners-up among 10 groups.
The men in red and green got off to a sparkling start against winless Nepal by scoring twice within 10 minutes.
Mojibor was set up by Piash Ahmed Nova but saw his attempt blocked by a defender before he managed to drive in the rebound in the fifth minute. Nova got into the scoring charts, also getting the rebound into the net in the 10th minute after a Mojibor free kick came off the crossbar.
After 35 minutes, both sides were reduced to ten following unnecessary scuffle and gestures between Bangladesh's Azizul Haque Ananta and Nepal's Dipesh Gurung.
After the game got underway again, Bangladesh widened the margin with Sajed heading a Nova chip home in the 52nd minute.
Bangladesh dominated the rest of the game and exposed the Nepal backline but could not extend their lead.
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