Yousef Kargar’s team booked their place in the semi-finals in style as they humiliated Hiroaki Matsuyama’s side…

Afghanistan routed Bhutan 8-1 in their final group A fixture and enthralled the audience at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with their attacking brand of football.

Belal Arezou scored four goals and now has five to his name in the competition to lead the goalscoring charts.

Bhutan coach Hiroaki Matsuyama persisted with Mon Bdr Bhattrai in spite of having let in five goals in the previous match against India. Afghanistan made one change with the Ahmad Waheed, who missed a couple of decent chances against Sri Lanka, being left out for Ghulam Hoddein.

It took just four minutes for Afghanistan to go ahead as Ata Yamir Ali scored the quickest goal in this edition of SAFF Championship after the Bhutan custodian punched away a Mohammad Esrafil free-kick.

Six minutes later once again Bhattrai punches a Mohammed Esrafil free-kick and before he could collect it, Haroon Fakhruddin headed home to make it 2-0.

Belal Arezou, who had a couple of half chances, got his name on the scoresheet as he goes past a couple of defenders and places the ball to the right of the Bhutan goalkeeper in the 16^th minute.

Thereafter it was Bhutan who scored their first goal in the competition when Chencho Gyeltshen as he cut past two Afghan defenders to shoot which gave goalkeeper Hameedullah Yousufzari no chance to save whatsoever.

Afghanistan resumed their string of attacks which were thwarted by Bhattrai and it was just a question of when the scoreline would be doubled.

Yousef Mashriqi, Mohammad Esrafil, Ata Yamir Ali, Haroon Fakhrudin and Belal Arezou were the key conspirators in plotting Bhutan’s humiliation.

Just before the half-time, Belal Arezou beat the offside trap, and slotted home from inside the box.

Things went from bad to worse for Bhutan as skipper Sangay Khandu got his second yellow card and was given marching orders by referee Nivon Robesh. Djelaludin Sharityar scored from the spot leaving the goalkeeper flummoxed.

The chief orchestrator of the Afghan attacks, Yousef Mashriqi scored from a zero angle to at last get a goal for himself.

Bhutan weren’t clearing the lines and as a result, the possession was once again handed over to the Afghans.

Arezou scored his fourth of the match after some brilliant work by Mohammad Esrafil whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper from close range but could do nothing as the Afghan number nine followed through to tap in.

The final scoreline read 8-1 in what was a completely one-sided affair. Where they shall end on the table will be decided after the Sri Lanka versus India game.