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Kanchan strikes twice to take Bangladesh to Saff semifinals

AL MUSABBIR SADI, from Karachi
Rokonuzaman Kanchan struck either side of the break as Bangladesh stormed into the semifinals of the Fourth SAFF Championship with an authoritative 2-0 win over Nepal in a Group B match at the People's Complex Stadium here yesterday.
India also moved to the last four from the same group after beating Bhutan 3-0 earlier in the day.
Level on six points, Bangladesh are ahead of India by virtue of a better goal difference and the two regional rivals meet in the group decider tomorrow.
After a cautious start, Diego Cruciani's charges took control of the midfield and began to slice the rival defence regularly. But Farhad's seventh minute placing shot went wide after the striker got a through pass from Alfaz inside the box. In the next two minutes, two more crosses tested Nepalese goalkeeper Bikash Malla who pulled off a fine save halfway through the first session to thwart a powerful freekick by Arman from 25 yards.
The break came in the 27th
minute when Matiur Munna cut back a low cross from the left. Farhad missed a shot but his effort unsettled the nearby defender who mistimed to clear and handed the ball to Muktijoddha striker Kanchan who made a clinical finish with his favourite left-footer.
The lead gave Bangladesh time to relax before the break, reserving their energy against a very speedy Nepalese midfield.
Nepal's pace, however, never looked threatening for Bangladesh's tidy defence and the tight midfield led by Ariful Kabir Joy, the skipper who put up another encouraging show.
The only chance Nepal had was in the 56th minute when Basanta Thapa had only the goalkeeper to beat after a rare defensive error, but the veteran's long range effort was stopped well by Bangladesh custodian Aminul. Two minutes later, Bikash made a one-handed save to deny an angled drive by Alfaz for a corner.
Four minutes from time, Matiur Munna again came alive with a
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through to Farhad who picked Kanchan unmarked at the left side of the penalty area with a crossfield pass. Kanchan effortlessly placed a left footer into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Despite playing a clean game, Bangladesh's evening was spoiled after Yemeni referee Al Yarimi Mukhtar showed five yellow cards to the holders.
Yellow cards: Farhad, Aminul, Titu, Kanchan, Rajani (Bangladesh) and Bijay, Sagar, Pradeep, Pralaya (Nepal)
TEAMS
BANGLADESH: Aminul, Hassan Al Mamun, Sujan, Rajani, Titu, Arman, Joy, Alfaz (Ujjal 83rd minute), Kanchan (Emily, 42nd) and Farhad (Arman Aziz, 89th).
NEPAL: Bikash, Lok Bandhu, Sagar, Rakesh, Anjan, Vishad (Pralaya, 78th) Hari Khadka (Raju, 41st)), Pradeep, Bijay, Surendra (Ramesh, 71st) and Basanta.