In recent times, Bangladesh cricket team have had their share of heartbreaking defeats against India in finals, and it seems it is no different in football as well.
The latest sorrow came Sunday in the Saff U-18 Championship grand finale where Bangladesh U-18 football team conceded a painful 2-1 defeat against their Indian counterparts, despite playing a little less than an hour with nine men.
Bangladesh began the game in the worst possible manner as India went ahead in just the second minute through Vikram Pratap Singh.
Both the teams were then reduced to 10 men after a melee following a Bangladesh foul on an Indian player at the center of the field.
Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ridoy and India’s Gurkeerat Singh received their marching orders after the two teams settled down following the referee’s intervention.
The momentum then swung Bangladesh’s way when captain Yeasin Arafat brought parity in the 40th minute.
Bangladesh U-18 football team players were on cloud nine after thumping their Bhutan counterparts 4-0 in the first semi-final of the Saff U-18 Championship at Armed Police Force Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal Friday.https://t.co/5Yi41Pgoi5#FOOTBALL #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BFF #SAFF
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 27, 2019
Yeasin though saw a second yellow card after lifting his jersey and covering his head to leave Bangladesh with nine men.
Despite being a man less than India, Bangladesh fought bravely till the end, registering one attack after another and resisting the opposition’s threats, before disaster struck right at the death.
When it seemed the regulation time would end 1-1, India’s Givson Singh found the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations in the dugout.
It was second time unlucky for the young booters in red and green as they also finished runners-up in the previous edition in 2017.
This is India’s first title after they became second in the first edition in 2015.
Meanwhile in the third-place playoff, Maldives edged Bhutan 1-0, Ibrahim Imran netting the all-important goal in the 75th minute.
RESULT
BANGLADESH U-18 1 (Arafat 39) INDIA U-18 2 (Vikram 2, Givson 90+1)