India Beat Bangladesh 2–1 to Clinch SAFF U-18 Football Title
"I had maintained that it will take a moment of brilliance to end this SAFF Championship, and it was fitting that Ravi finished if off with a wonderful strike," India's head coach Floyd Pinto said after the match. India's Ninthoinganba Meetei was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
New Delhi, September 29: India won the the SAFF U-18 football championship for the first time after defeating Bangladesh 2-1 in the final in Kathmandu on Sunday. India took the lead in the second minute when Vikram Partap Singh sped past his marker and took a shot which found the back of the net. The match-winner came in late in injury time when the nippy Ravi Bahadur Rana scored off a screamer from about 30 yards. In between, Yeasin Arafat reduced the margin for Bangladesh in the 40th minute.
"I had maintained that it will take a moment of brilliance to end this SAFF Championship, and it was fitting that Ravi finished if off with a wonderful strike," India's head coach Floyd Pinto said after the match. India's Ninthoinganba Meetei was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. SAFF U-18 Championship 2019: India Gear Up to Play Against Neighbours Bangladesh.
The victory comes on the back of India winning the U-15 SAFF championship, beating Bangladesh in the final in August. While the U-16 national team went on to qualify for the AFC U-16 tourney, the U-19 Team will play the AFC qualifiers in November in their quest to qualify for the AFC finals.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2019 06:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).