Bangladesh marches into final with narrow win

Bangladesh under-20 national football team booked its place in the final of the SAFF U-20 Championship with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Nepal in the first semi-final at Male on Wednesday.

The young side started on the front foot, applying early pressure and dictating the tempo. They came close in the seventh minute when Murshed Ali's incisive pass found Najmul Huda Faisal inside the box, but his effort drifted wide despite having support from an unmarked teammate.

Bangladesh, however, did not have to wait long to make the breakthrough. In the 11th minute, Murshed Ali turned provider again, delivering a precise cross into the area where Mohammad Manik rose above the defence to head home the decisive goal.

Trailing by a goal, Nepal attempted to respond with urgency, but Bangladesh's defence remained compact and disciplined. The men in red and green nearly doubled their lead before the break, only to see Ronan O'Sullivan's effort ruled out for offside.

After the interval, Bangladesh continued to press for a second goal, with Joy Ahmed coming close but failing to connect properly with a long pass. Nepal, meanwhile, threatened from a set-piece, as Nepal's Bivek Khadka's free-kick struck the side post. 

In the closing stages, Nepal pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Bangladesh held firm, showcasing resilience and tactical maturity beyond their years.

With this win, Bangladesh advanced to Saturday's final, where they will face the winners of the second semi-final between India and Bhutan, standing just one step away from the title.