Bangladesh await himalayan task

As India beat Nepal 1-0 in the fourth matchday of the SAFF Championship on Sunday, it ensured that Bangladesh had a colossal task ahead of them as the red and greens now have to beat Nepal in their final match to land the first final berth in 16 years.

A win for India took them to five points and third place in the points table, whereas Maldives’ win over Sri Lanka took them to second place with six points. Nepal still hold their place at the top with six points, as they have a superior head-to-head result against hosts Maldives. Bangladesh sit fourth with four points from their three games.

Now, a win for Bangladesh will mean seven points for Oscar Bruzon’s men, which will be unassailable for at least three teams. Sri Lanka are already out with one point from four games, and a win for Bangladesh means Nepal cannot get more than six.

And as India and Maldives are facing off in the remaining match of the group stage, only one of them can get seven or more points. A win for Maldives will see them go to nine points, whereas a win for India takes them to eight. A draw will take Maldives to seven points and India to six.

So, the equation for Jamal Bhuyan and co is simple now. Beat Nepal, and a place in the final is confirmed. And if Bangladesh manage to achieve that, it will be a great feat as they have not secured a place in the final since the 2005 edition of the tournament.

Bangladesh will have a tough task in their hands facing Nepal, who beat defending Champions Maldives earlier in the tournament. Bangladesh had succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Maldives and failed to create any competition in that match.

But Nepal were beaten by India, and Bangladesh had taken a point of the Indians despite playing almost a half with one man less. Bangladesh have a decent record against Nepal as they have won 13 out of the 22 meetings between the sides, losing seven. Though the recent record speaks otherwise as Bangladesh have only managed one win in the last five matches.

In the last decade, Bangladesh have lost all three times they faced Nepal in the SAFF Championship, and that may be a worrying sign for Oscar Bruzon’s men.

But a lucky coincidence may take place as Bangladesh had last beaten Nepal in the 2005 edition of SAFF, where the red and greens reached the final.

After group stage goodbyes for more than a decade, Bangladesh once again have a shot at playing in the final of the SAFF Championship. The goal is simple, beat Nepal, secure a spot in the final.

It may sound simple. But it’s still a Himalayan task for Bruzon’s men. Because the team from the Himalayas have proven to be tough opponents, and they will have definitely put in a tough fight in Bangladesh’s bid for a final spot.