U-18s lose against Nepal

Bangladesh's hopes of a maiden SAFF U-18 Cham-pionship title received a heavy jolt after they lost 1-2 against defending champions Nepal in their third match at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan yesterday.

In a feisty encounter, Bangladesh conceded the lead early, but hit back through Mohammad Al-Amin on the half-hour mark. But two yellow cards to defender Bishwanath Ghosh soon after the restart saw the men in red and green chase their opponents for the remainder of the match. And when goalkeeper Mahfuz Hossain Pritom conceded a calamitous goal late in the match, there was no coming back for Mahbub Hossain Roxy's charges.

The defeat means Bangladesh slipped from the top of the five-team table on goal deference as four teams – India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan – have six points each from three outings.

A win, on the other hand, would have put Bangladesh on pole position, needing a draw against Bhutan to confirm the title. Now four teams are left with a chance of winning the title. If Bangladesh manage to beat Bhutan in the first match tomorrow and India doesn't lose against Nepal in the last match, Bangladesh will be champions, courtesy of their win against India.

Following two commanding performances against India and Maldives, Bangladesh needed an outright win over Nepal to strengthen their claim on the regional trophy, but the boys in red and green failed to replicate that performance against Nepal, who had beat Bangladesh 2-1 in the group stages of the 2015 edition of the championship.

Bangladesh got off to a good start and Mahbubur Rahman came close to breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute when his angular shot to the far post from the right flank narrowly missed the target with the Nepalese goalkeeper completely beaten.

Mahbubur then saw his close-range shot blocked by the goalkeeper in the 19th minute before Nepal took the lead in the 22nd minute when Abhishek Rajal headed in a well-judged cross from Rajin Subba.

However, Bangladesh hit back soon to equalise the margin in the 30th minute when midfielder Al Amin headed home a rebound after Sohanur Rahman rattled the crossbar from a free-kick.

Bangladesh suffered a big blow when defender Bishwanath Ghosh picked up his second booking in a span of three minutes, leaving Bangladesh with 10 men for the rest of the match.

Bangladesh looked desperate for the win, but more disaster struck when goalkeeper Pritom failed to judge a long-free-kick from Roman Limbu as the defending champions regained the lead. The Bangladesh goalkeeper was out of position as Limbu's dipping attempt from 45 yards sailed over his head and into the net.

Both teams continued their attacking forays till the end, but the scoreline remained 2-1 in favour of Nepal as the title race was blown wide open.