FIFA's 200 ranked Seychelles and 172 ranked Mauritius played a 2-2 draw on Monday (Jan 20) in the last match of Group-B after which Seychelles, riding on the goal difference, secured the semi-finals of Bangabandhu Gold Cup 2020 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. Both the rivals needed points to confirm the semis. After the full time saw a 2-2 tie, Seychelles was given the nod to play the semis as it had better condition in goal difference.
The semifinals line up of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football tournament has been completed as Seychelles as the last team booked the semifinal despite playing out to a 2-2 goal draw with Mauritius in the group last match held on Monday (Jan 20) at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
Seychelles moved to the semifinal as the group B runners-up by virtue of conceding less goal difference in the group phase match against Burundi. Seychelles suffered a 1-3 goal defeat while Mauritius lost by 1-4 goals margin in their respective group opening matches against Burundi which already confirmed their spot of semifinal as the group B champions.
They will play against group A champions Palestine in the first semifinal scheduled to be held on Wednesday (Jan 22) at the same venue. Bangladesh and Burundi will play the second semifinal on the following day (Thursday) at the same venue.
State-owned Bangladesh Television, private satellite channel RTV will telecast the two semifinals match live that will kick off at 5 p.m.
In the day’s match, Seychelles launched attack in the beginning of the match and got the reward in the 19th minute when Gervais Waye-Hive sent the ball home with a perfect placing shot from the close range.
Forward Perry Monnaie doubled the lead in the 28th minute with a shot from inside the small D after taking minus from Brandon Labrosse.
After the resumption, Mauritius got the scoring chance in the 66th minute but Jean Luicel’s powerful free kick from 20 yards was fisted for safety by Seychelles custodian Lan Ah-Kong at a cost of corner.
However substitute forward Jason Ferre pulled one back for Mauritius in the 67th minute with a brilliant header utilizing a corner kick from left wing.
Mauritius again came close to scoring in the 79th minute when Martin Williams powerful shot was fisted by Seychelles custodian Lan Ah-Kong at a cost of corner.
Substitute forward Josip Ravignia must considers him as unlucky as his righter footer shot from handshake distance went over the cross bar in the 82nd minute.
Juninho Mathiot of Seychelles was shown red card by Nepalese referee Sudish Kumar Pandey in the 83rd minute following double yellow cards.
Midfielder Adrien FranOois was finally able to restore the parity for Mauritius with a close range shot after Auriline Parle’s shot from inside the D box, fisted by Seychelles custodian Lan Ah-Kong, came to his way in the 90+1st minute.
