Bangladesh take on Nepal today

Bangladesh Under-20 national football team will take on Nepal in their final group-stage game at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India today.

The boys in red and green will be able to cement their spot in the final if they manage at least a draw against Nepal. Bangladesh bagged all nine points from their first three games as they have one foot in the final. A win or a draw will take them through but if Bangladesh lose against Nepal then India and Nepal can equal their tally of nine points, in which case the two teams with greater goal differences will go through.

Vice-captain of Bangladesh Moinul Islam Moin assured that he and his team is prepared for the contest and are looking forward to booking their spot in the final by taking all three points.

“We are all prepared for tomorrow’s match. Everyone is looking forward to getting into the final by taking all 12 points and we are hoping that we can do something good in the final,” he said.

Head coach and technical director of Bangladesh under-20 Paul Smalley said that they came with the ambition of reaching the final and will approach the Nepal game in a professional manner.

“Our target has always been to get to the final. What we’ve needed to get to the final we’ve done so far. We’ve won our first three games and are taking games day as it comes. We’ll prepare as we’ve always prepared. Nepal have got India in the next game in 24 hours’ time. We’ll eagerly be watching that game and we’ll be preparing for that game in a professional manner and hopefully perform to the same standard,” he said after their win against the Maldives.

India beat Nepal 8-0 in their match on Sunday and currently sit second in the points table by virtue of a greater goal difference despite having equal number of points as Nepal.

Bangladesh are on nine points with a goal difference of 5, while India have a goal difference of 11 and Nepal’s goal difference is -1.

Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in their opening fixture and came out on top in a 2-1 win against India before thrashing Maldives 4-1 in the third match.