By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Sept. 24: The two time defending champions Nepal crashed out from the on-going 3rd edition SAFF U-18 Football Championship after Bhutan and the Maldives cruised into the semi-finals playing a goalless draw on Tuesday.
Nepal’s dreams to claim a hat-trick SAFF U-18 title was shattered after Bhutan and the Maldives played goalless draw in the deciding match held at Armed Police Force (APF) Stadium, Halchwok, Kathmandu.
Bhutan cruised into the semi-final as a group winner of group ‘A’ with four points from two match and the Maldives secured their spot at the semi-final as a runner-up of the group ‘A’ with two points.
Nepal ended their journey at the group stage with just one point. Nepal bagged the previous two editions of the championship. The maiden edition of the tournament was held in Kathamandu and the second edition of the tournament was held at Bhutan.
Host Nepal played a 1-1 draw against the Maldives in their opener on last Wednesday and they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bhutanese young guns in their second match on last Saturday.
A 3-0 victory by Bhutan over Maldives in their today’s battle would help Nepal secure a spot in semi-final on the basis of card count.
The turning point of Nepal crashing out of the journey was due to their 0-3 loss against Bhutan in their last group match of the tournament.
Nepal had been drawn into the group ‘A’ alongside the Maldives and Bhutan while India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had drawn into the group ‘B.
Bangladesh had secured their spot in the semi-final but the group winner and runner-up of the group ‘B’ will be decided on Wednesday as India will take on Sri Lanka in the last match of the group stage.