Bangladesh reached the SAFF Championship semi-final after 14 years as they beat Bhutan 3-1 in their third and final Group B fixture of the ongoing edition at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India Wednesday.
Sheikh Morsalin and Rakib Hossain netted one goal each with outstanding efforts to help Bangladesh come from behind after Tsenda Dorji gave Bhutan an early lead.
The Bengal Tigers earned six points to emerge as Pool B runners-up while Lebanon finished as group winners with nine points after beating the Maldives earlier in the day.
The men in red and green will take on Kuwait in the first semi-final Saturday afternoon at the same venue while India face Lebanon in the other last four clash later in the day.
Javier Cabrera again made two changes from the last game against the Maldives by replacing injured Tariq Raihan Kazi and Foysal Ahmed Fahim with Rahmat Mia and Morsalin.
Rahmat started at right-back while Bishwanath Ghosh, who played as right-back in the first two matches, switched to center-back position.
Morsalin started an international match for the first time as a reward for his brilliant performance as a substitute in the Maldives win.
Tsenda gave Bhutan the breakthrough in the 12th minute with a powerful left-footer from just outside the box that hit the net through top left corner.
Seven minutes later, Nima Wangdi dribbled past a couple of Bangladesh players to take a shot from around 30 yards out that hit the woodwork.
Rakib Hossain scores Bangladesh's third goal Morsalin equalized the margin in the 21st minute with a spectacular strike from outside the box which fired home over Zangpo.
It was Morsalin's second international goal in as many matches and that too with his weaker left foot following Rakib's pass.
Bangladesh took the lead at the half-hour mark when Phuntsho Jigme sent the ball into his own net following Rakib's shot from a Morsalin cross.
Rakib could have extended the lead four minutes later when he shot wide on a one-on-one situation with Zangpo after being set up by Morsalin.
Rakib rectified his mistake with a brilliant goal in the 36th minute as the winger broke into the right side of penalty area before placing from a tight angle.
The second half was a comparatively dull affair as none of the two sides managed to create clear-cut chances and Bangladesh were biding time to celebrate their first semi berth since 2009.
Bangladesh Starting XI: Anisur Rahman Zico, Bishwanath Ghosh, Topu Barman, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal (Alomgir Molla 90+2), Sohel Rana (Rabiul Hasan 85), Mohammad Sohel Rana (Mojibur Rahman Jony 45), Jamal Bhuiyan, Mohammad Ridoy, Sheikh Morsalin (Aminur Rahman Sajib 72), Rakib Hossain (Rafiqul Islam 45)
RESULT
Bhutan 1 (Tsenda 12) Bangladesh 3 (Morsalin 21, Phuntsho 30-og, Rakib 36)
