Bangladesh have won the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship with a 1-0 win over India as the hosts ended the tournament unconquered.
Anai Mogini scored the winner to help her side emerge as unbeaten champions in the final match at Bir Sherestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka’s Kamalapur on Wednesday, reports bdnews24.com.
Bangladesh had won the South Asian tournament’s U-18 edition in 2018 by beating Nepal. Coach Golam Rabbani Choton’s girls have now repeated the feat at the U-19 level.
India were knocked out by Nepal in the semi-final in 2018. They made it to the final for the first time in 2021. Bangladesh had defeated India in the Round Robin league 1-0 as well.
Choton made four changes to the starting XI from the team that routed Sri Lanka 12-0 in the semi-final, with Monika Chakma, Tahura Khatun, Rituparna Chakma and Nilufar Yasmin coming into the side.
Bangladesh dominated possession from the start, but they spurned several chances to go ahead. India were closest to breaking the deadlock but Bangladesh goalkeeper Rupona Chakma thwarted Lynda Kom’s header in the 63rd minute.
Finally, Anai found the back of the net with a long-range strike following a back-heel flick from Shaheda Akter Ripa in the 79th minute.
Bangladesh did not concede a single goal in the tournament while scoring the highest number of 20 goals. India scored nine and conceded two – both against Bangladesh.