Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Jiarath Sheikh saved two penalties and scored the decisive one to send Nepal to the final of the 2024 SAFF U-20 Championship, defeating Bhutan in the first semifinal at the ANFA Complex on Sunday.
The match went into extra time after both teams were tied at 1-1 in the regulation 90 minutes. Nepal won the tie-breaker 4-1.
The first half was largely uneventful, with both sides getting opportunities but failing to capitalize. Bhutan took the lead in the 57th minute when a long-range shot by Jetsuen Dorji beat the Nepali keeper and flew into the net.
Nepal came back into the game after Bhutan went down to ten men. Kinzang Tenzing was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for fouling a Nepali defender in the 77th minute. Nirajan Dhami equalized for Nepal, heading in from the box after connecting with a long pass from the center.
Ram Thapa, Abiash Syangtang, Semant Thapa, and keeper Jiarath Sheikh scored for Nepal in the tie-breaker. Jetsuen Dorji scored Bhutan’s first penalty but Jiarath saved Bhutan’s two successive penalties.
Nepal will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Bangladesh and India in the final.
