Bangladesh have won the SAFF Under-16 Championship for the first time by beating defending champions India in a penalty shootout.
The hosts prevailed over their neighbours 4-2 after remaining deadlocked one-all in 90 minutes of normal time at the Sylhet District Stadium on Tuesday.
Having won all their group matches, Bangladesh became the undefeated champions in this edition of the tournament.
After a goalless first half, Bangladesh took the lead in the first minute after the break.
Midfielder Mohammad Shawon’s cross into the box found Fahim Morshed who fired it into the back of the net.
India equalised in the 62nd minute with Avinash Morajkar’s long-range effort.
Bangladesh kept pressing high up the pitch as the game headed towards the shootout.
In the first ten minutes of the match, the teams were more focussed on possession rather than attack but the wet and slippery field made it difficult for the players.
After the visitor’s goalkeeper fended off Morshed’s shot from inside the box in the 23rd minute, Bangladesh launched a wave of attacks but failed to breach the Indian defence.
The holders’ attacks relied on long passes in the remainder of the first half but Bangladesh held them off with timely interceptions.
Shawon broke down the left flank to cross and it brushed the head of a defender on its way to Morshed in a melee. He turned and fired to break the deadlock.
Bangladesh, who beat India 2-1 in the group tie, pressed high up the pitch in a bid to extend the slim lead.
They almost did so when Saad Uddin surged through and found himself in the box with only the goalkeeper to beat, but his shot lacked power.
They survived a scare when goalkeeper Faysal Ahmed made an amateurish mistake in the 59th minute. He picked the ball with his hands after his teammate had passed it back to him.
India scored from the free kick inside the box but it was ruled out for an offside.
The visitors, however, soon equalised with midfielder Avinash’s spectacular goal from outside the box.
The teams desperately looked for a winner in the remaining time. India’s Mohammad Shahjahan and Morshed both shot over the post from close range as the partisan crowd held their breath.
There was more drama as a power failure plunged the stadium into darkness in the injury time. Play resumed 10 minutes later, and the referee soon blew the whistle for penalty shootout.
Bangladesh’s Morshed and Jahangir Alam Sajeeb scored from the first two shots of the tiebreaker while Sourav and Mohammad Rakib drew level for India.
The hosts went ahead again through Atiquzzaman Atiq but India’s Abhijit Sarkar hit the woodwork.
Saad Uddin, too, scored from Bangladesh’s fourth spotkick while Faysal dived to his right and held on to Saqlain Khan’s shot to spark wild celebrations around the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has congratulated the Bangladesh colts on their historic triumph.
Source: Bd news24
