New Delhi: The Indian football team lifted the SAFF U-18 Championship for the first time when they defeated Bangladesh 2-1 in the title clash here Sunday.
India surged ahead as early as the second minute when Vikram Partap Singh sped past his marker and scored. The match-winner came in injury time when the nippy Ravi Bahadur Rana scored with a screamer from about 30 yards. Earlier Bangladesh had restored parity in the 40th minute through Yeasin Arafat.
“I had maintained that it will take a moment of brilliance to end this SAFF Championship, and it was fitting that Ravi Bahadur Rana finished it off with a wonderful strike,” head coach Floyd Pinto stated moments after the final whistle.
“We were not just the best football team in the tournament, but also the most effective team. I am really happy for the boys. They deserved to earn the title,” Floyd Pinto added.
India’s Ninthoinganba Meetei was adjudged the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the tournament.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel congratulated the team.
“The team improved with every match. It is double delight for Indian youth teams especially after the U-16 boys qualified for the AFC Championships last week. Keep it up,” Praful Patel said.
General secretary Kushal Das said: “The SAFF U-18 Championships had been eluding us. Congratulations to everyone. This triumph will add confidence prior to the AFC U-19 Qualifiers in November which is the ultimate test.”
The victory makes it sweeter with the U-15 national team having lifted the SAFF U-15 Championship beating Bangladesh in the final in August 2019.
“This is going to give us a huge boost for the AFC Championship, and make us more confident as we prepare for it. Hopefully, we will be able to kick-off AFC Qualifiers in a good manner,” Pinto added.
It must be stated here that both teams were reduced to 10 men each in the 22nd minute when Gurkirat Singh and Md Fahim were given marching orders following a tiff. Bangladesh were further reduced to nine men in the 40th minute when their skipper Yeasin was booked for a second yellow card for ‘illegitimate celebration’ following the equaliser.
PTI