U-18s concede title to India despite beating them
A 1-0 win over India in the final fixture was not enough for Bangladesh to defend the title of SAFF U-18 Women's Championship as hosts India clinched their maiden title of the regional championship at JRD Tata Academy ground in Jamshedpur on Friday.
With both India and Bangladesh securing equal nine points from four matches and levelled in head-to-head count, India kept the trophy by virtue of better goal-difference than Bangladesh in the three-team double round-robin league basis tournament, which also featured Nepal.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Bangladesh, who were trailing three points of India before the game, required at least a two-goal margin of victory to defend the title. However, the women in red and green could only match the exact scoreline which they were on the receiving end in their previous encounter against India.
The charges of Golam Rabbani Choton dominated throughout teh game, even though television statistics showed both sides had equal ball possession. Bangladesh attacked desperately from the very first minute with the backline providing long balls instead of building the game from the back. This aerial threat caused Bangladeshi striking pair Shamsunnahar and Aklima Khatun to expose the Indian backline, time and again. The latter twice went close to breaking the deadlock while Swapna Rani and Unnoti Khatun tried their luck from the distance.
India came extremely close to taking the lead in the 40th minute when Lynda Kom, the top-scorer and the most valuable player of the tournament, rattled the bar, much to the relief of goalkeeper Rupna Chakma. The next minute, a chance went begging for Bangladesh as Shamsunnar nodded a free-header wide.
After resumption, Bangladesh looked a bit tired following their high-pressing football in the first half. Aklima threatened in the 63rd minute but drove her left-foot shot wide from inside the box. India then countered with two quick chances but goalkeeper Rupna thwarted both.
Bangladesh finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute to send their dugout into raptures as Aklima collected a square-pass from the right-flank and advanced into the box to drive a low shot past the Indian goalkeeper Melody Chanu.
After taking the lead, Bangladesh kept their dominance in the attacking third intact but India's backline negotiated the Bangladeshi forwards well to keep the margin in their favour.
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