SAFF Championship Semi-Final Qualification Scenario: Which Teams Are The Best Placed To Make It Through

Maldives and Nepal got the results they required in their final group stage matches versus Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively. 

Istvan Urbanyi's men infact ended up as the group leaders as their 3-1 win over the Bengal tigers was enough to put them ahead of Nepal in the Group.

Both the teams have been in good form and there was little to choose between them in the group stages. So whoever makes it through from Group A as the winner or runner-up, shall definately not have any easy games to look forward to.

Of the four nations in group A, only lowly ranked Bhutan now have no chance of qualification, having been comprehensively beaten in both their encounters with Sri Lanka and India in Group A.

Goal.com analyses the several qualification scenarios that might occur in Group A on the final matchday and has a look at what each team needs to do, to keep their hopes of title glory alive.

	Team	Games					Goals
		Pts	P	W	D	L	F	A
	India	4	2	1	1	0	6	1
	Afghanistan	4	2	1	1	0	4	2
	Sri Lanka	3	2	1	0	1	4	3
	Bhutan	0	2	0	0	2	0	8

With Bhutan already out of the reckoning, table toppers India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan shall fight for the two spots in the semi-finals.

In their final league encounters, India takes on Sri Lanka while Afghanistan have the seemingly easier tie against the group whipping boys Bhutan.

Scenario 1: India and Afghanistan win their respective matches

The two nations are presently first and second on the table. So if they defeat Sri Lanka and Bhutan respectively, the hosts and their Afghani counterparts shall then make the semis.

Having played out a draw when the two sides met on Matchday 2, Goal Difference would then decide who tops the table.

Scenario 2: India and Afghanistan draw their respective matches

If such a scenario arises, India shall qualify as group winners while Afghanistan shall still edge out Sri Lanka by one point to take the second spot in the group.

Scenario 3: Sri Lanka wins against India and Afghanistan doesn’t lose against Bhutan

If the Islanders manage to beat the host nation, and if Afghanistan do not lose to Bhutan, then Sri Lanka and Mohammed Yousef Kargar’s charges will make it to the semis and in doing so break the hearts of a billion Indians.

Scenario 4: India and Sri Lanka play out a draw and Afghanistan lose

If such a scenario unfolds then India shall make the semis as group leaders while Afghanistan shall still squeeze through on a better head to head record against Sri Lanka.

Group A Final Analysis:

Afghanistan seem well placed to qualify from the group. The team might be lowly ranked in the FIFA standings but their performances have been solid. If they do get a result against Bhutan, they shall make it to the last four.

Who joins them in the semis and the identity of the group topper will be decided when India take on Sri Lanka in the other tie of the group. India need to avoid defeat against their southern border rivals to make it through while Sri Lanka have no other option except to go all out for a win since a draw would not be enough for them even if Afghanistan lost, since the Afghans defeated them 3-1 and would go through on head-to-head basis.

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