Guwahati: Bangladesh smartly reached the semifinal of the 12th South Asian Games Men's Football as unbeaten Group-B champions beating Nepal by 2-1 goals in the last group match at Nehru Stadium (NS) in Ulubari on Thursday.

Bangladesh will play the first semifinal against hosts and the Group-A runners-up India on Saturday (February 13) at 2:30 pm (BST).  

In the other semifinal on the same day at 7:30 pm (BST), Group-A champions the Maldives will face Nepal. Both the semifinals will be held at Indira Ghandhi Stadium in Sarusajai.

With the day's feat, Bangladesh poised for the 3rd crown of the South Asian Games soccer after clinching the title in 1999 in Kathmandu and in 2010 in Dhaka.

Defender Rayhan Hasan and striker Nabib Newah Jibon scored for the Bengal Tigers and Ananta Tamang netted the lone goal for the Gorkhalis.

Ananta Tamang put Nepal ahead in the very 3rd minute of the match by a good header, off a corner kick of Jagjeet Shrestha (1-0).

Defender Rayhan Hasan restored the parity for Bangladesh in the 40th minute beating Nepalese custodian Alan Neupana (1-1).

Promising striker Nabib Newah Jibon scored the match winning goal for Bangladesh in the 45th minute by a close-range shot from a goalmouth melee (2-1).

Both sides kept their bar intact in the 2nd half of the match playing tactical games.  

Adity Chowdhury of Nepal was cautioned with yellow card for a rough charge against Hemonta Biswas of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Team: Rasel Mahmud, Rayhan Hasan, Topu Barman, Rezaul Karim, Yeasin Khan, Jamal Bhuiyan, Hemonta Vinsent Biswas, Sohel Rana,(Aminur Rahman Sojib), Atiqur Rahman Farhad, Shahedul Alam Shahed and Nabib Newah Zibon.

Referee: Gamani Robesh (Sri Lanka)