Hosts India and Bangladesh are set to clash in the final of the SAFF U-19 Championship on May 18. In semi-finals Bangladesh won the first match while India secured a convincing victory in the second.
Bangladesh faced stiff competition from Nepal, ultimately edging them out 2-1 in a closely contested encounter. On the other hand India cruised past Maldives with a comfortable 3-0 win showing clear dominance throughout the match.
The second semi-final was played at the Yupia Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal Pradesh, where the hosts took early control. India went into halftime with a two-goal lead. Despite Maldives’ efforts to bounce back in the second half, they conceded another goal. The match also saw several minutes played in heavy rain.
Bangladesh head coach Golam Rabbani Choton praised his team’s performance and tactical discipline after their win over Nepal. “We had observed the Nepal vs India match and planned accordingly. The boys were able to execute our game plan on the field,” said Choton.
He also mentioned that having a four-day break before the semi-final was beneficial for the team. “We played two consecutive group matches on May 9 and 11, which was tough. But the four-day gap before the semi-final really helped us,” he added.
Even before the result of India’s semi-final, Choton anticipated that the final would likely be against India. He believes it will be a great occasion for local football fans in Arunachal Pradesh. “India is undoubtedly a strong opponent in SAFF football. We were prepared to face them. I hope the people of Arunachal will enjoy a high-quality, competitive final between Bangladesh and India,” Choton concluded.
UA / TDS
