Bangladesh had made a flying start to the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship. After a goal-fest against Bhutan, the defending champions have now taken a giant leap towards the final by defeating formidable rivals India. On Monday (February 2), the Tigresses defeated their arch-rivals India 2-0 in the match held in Pokhara, Nepal.
Bangladesh played dominant football right from the kickoff. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute. When the Indian goalkeeper failed to properly grip a free-kick, the ball spilled out of her hands. Captain Arpita Biswas seized the opportunity, tapping the rebound into the net.
Just as India were trying to stage a comeback after conceding the opener, they were dealt a second blow. In the 39th minute of the first half, a cross floating in from the right flank found forward Alpi Akter perfectly positioned between two Indian defenders. She finished with great skill, sending Bangladesh into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead.
The girls in red and green maintained their attacking intensity in the second half as well. Although several chances were created, no further goals were scored. Ultimately, Bangladesh left the field with a convincing 2-0 victory.
The four-team tournament is being played in a round-robin league format. With a maximum of 6 points from two matches and a massive goal difference of +14, Bangladesh currently sit atop the points table. Meanwhile, India, having defeated Nepal in their opener, are in second place with 3 points (goal difference -1). Nepal and Bhutan are yet to open their accounts.
The top two teams from the league stage will face off in the final on February 7. If the other match between Nepal and Bhutan ends in a draw today, Bangladesh will secure their spot in the final with a match to spare.