Maldives secured top spot in Group B and a semi-final date with India at the 10th SAFF Championship after a scoreless draw with Afghanistan at the
Dasharath Rangashala Stadium in Kathmandu on Friday.
In the day’s other match, four goals from Mohamed Issadeen took Sri Lanka past Bhutan 5-2 to pick up their only points of the tournament and send their opponents crashing out with three losses in three matches.
Unlike Group A, this group offered no suspense going into the last round of matches, with Afghanistan and Maldives already guaranteed places in the semi-finals with two wins apiece.
With little to play for, both teams rotated their squads to keep key players fresh for the knock-out stages. Maldivian striker Ali Ashfaq, who tallied ten goals in the first two matches to become the leading scorer, spent the game on the bench and watched as his team-mates sealed a draw and finished ahead of their opponents on goal difference.
There was more action at the Halchowk Rangashala Stadium, which saw Issadeen (19’, 26’, 50’, 90+3’) score twice either side of Pema Dorji’s 32nd-minute own-goal to help Sri Lanka salvage some pride after their humiliating 10-0 defeat to Maldives in their opening match.
Passang Tshering (45’) and Sonam Tenzing (58’) scored for Bhutan, who exited the competition in last place after failing to pick up a single point.
Afghanistan will take on
hosts Nepal, who topped Group A after beating India on Thursday, in the first semi-final on Sunday. India and Maldives will face off the next day for the right to play the winners of first semi in the September 11 final.
-With New Age input
