Bangladesh Olympic team’s hopes of progressing to the semifinals of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup took a battering when they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Maldives Under-23 yesterday at the Bangabandhu National stadium.

Courtesy the facile win, Maldives became the first side to book a last-four berth while the young Bengal Tigers, who have only one point from two matches, must now win against bottom side Cambodia tomorrow in their last Group B game to harbour any hopes of making it to the semis.

Easa Ismail put the visitors ahead in the 16th minute, smashing home from an unmarked position inside the box following a fine run by forward Nashid Ahmed and a precise cross from the left flank.

Imaaz Ahmed doubled the lead just seven minutes later when the forward’s shot narrowly crossed the goalline.

Cambodia crash out

Cambodia became the second team after Sri Lanka to exit in the group stages when they fell to a 1-0 loss against Bahrain Under-23 yesterday.

Bahrain on the other hand are very much in the running for a semi-final spot with four points from two outings before their last Group B match against Maldives U-23 tomorrow.

Cambodia, meanwhile, are rooted at the bottom with two defeats in as many matches.

Captain and midfielder Abdulaziz Alshaikh put Bahrain ahead in the 11th minute when Jasim Alshaikh’s corner from the right flank found him at the centre of the box. The skipper made no mistake heading home into the near post.

The Middle Eastern nation could have doubled the lead in the 40th minute but Cambodian goalkeeper Seri Rath produced a lovely save to parry away forward Jasim Alshaikh’s right-footer.