KATHMANDU, AUGUST 25

Nepal advanced to the SAFF U-20 Championship final by defeating Bhutan on Sunday.

In the match held at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Nepal secured its place in the final with a 4-1 victory over Bhutan in a penalty shootout. This was the first semifinal of the tournament.

Goalkeeper Jiyarath Sheikh played a crucial role in Nepal's triumph by saving three penalty attempts from Bhutanese players, paving the way for Nepal's journey to the final.

In the penalty shootout, Ran Thapa scored Nepal's first goal, while Jetsen Dorjey converted for Bhutan. Avinash Syangtan successfully scored the second goal for Nepal, but Gigmey Nyamgel missed his attempt for Bhutan.

In the third round, Ugwen Jigme's shot was blocked by Nepal's Jiyarath Sheikh, who also scored the decisive goal in the fourth round, securing Nepal's victory.

Earlier, both teams had scored one goal each within the regulation 90 minutes, with Bhutan taking the lead in the 56th minute.

The second semifinal of the championship will see India face Bangladesh on Monday.