Kathmandu, Aug 20 (UNI) Team India men lost 3-4 on penalties against Bangladesh after regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw in the semi-final of the SAFF U20 Championship at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal, on Monday.
Bangladesh, who led 1-0 at the breather, will meet hosts Nepal in the final on Wednesday.
Two crucial penalty saves by Bangladesh’s substitute goalkeeper Mohammed Asif led the defending champions India’s ouster from the tournament.
Both teams displayed commendable defensive organisation, but Asif’s brilliance under the bar in the penalty shootout separated the two sides. Asadul Islam Sakib put Bangladesh in the lead in the 36th
minute, while India’s captain Ricky Meetei Haobam scored in the 74th minute to bring India back into the game.
Both teams were evenly matched, though India were having a slight edge in attacks. However, Bangladesh’s defence remained resolute and gradually grew into the game. In the 17th minute, Bangladesh’s Mohammed Rabby Rahul unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box,
but India goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey made an outstanding save to keep his team in the contest.
In the tiebreaker, India made a faulty start as Gangte’s shot was saved by Asif to leave Bangladesh with an advantage. After Pramveer, Goyary and Manjot Singh Dhami scored from the net for the next three attempts, the Bangladesh custodian once again came to his team’s rescue by blocking Akash Tirkey’s last shot.
Mohammed Pias Ahmed Nova, Moinul Islam Moin, Shakil Ahad Topu, and Ashraful Haque Asif made no mistake in their first four attempts to take Bangladesh to the final.
