Bangladesh has taken a lead 1-0 against home team Nepal in the first half of the SAFF U-20 Championship underway at ANFA Complex in Satdobato in Lalitpur.
Mirajul Islam scored a goal against Nepal capitalizing on the free-kick awarded to Bangladesh in the injury time of the first half.
Islam's powerful kick hit the net after deflecting on side bar of the post.
Despite opportunities and having a good grip on the match, Nepal failed to score a goal. Bangladesh took advantage of the opportunity and took the lead.
In the 31st minute of the game, Nirajan Dhami's shot went wide of the first bar. Before that, Simant Thapa's free kick flew over the crossbar in the 29th minute.
Similarly, in the 21st minute of the first half, Nirajan Dhami snatched the ball from two defenders of Bangladesh and passed it to Avinash Syangtan but the latter could not capitalize on it.
In the 16th minute of the game, Samir Tamang controlled Nirajan's long pass and tried to hit the ball into the goal post but failed to make it.
In the ninth minute of the first half, Nirajan Dhami's long shot was brilliantly saved by the Bangladeshi goalkeeper.
Nepal entered the final by defeating Bhutan. Similarly, it defeated Bangladesh in the group stage match to enter the semi-final as the group winner.
Likewise, group runner-up Bangladesh entered the final by defeating India.
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