Bangladesh crashed out of the Saff Under-19 Championship after going down against India in a thrilling penalty shootout in the second semi-final at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal yesterday. After a goalless 90 minutes, both teams were tied 3-3 from the first five spot kicks before India sneak away with the game at sudden death.
In the first semi-final earlier on the day, hosts Nepal beat Afghanistan 3-2 to enter their first ever final in the tournament’s history. The final will be played tomorrow.
India’s Lalram missed the first penalty to give the Bengal Tigers an early hope but Mohammedan winger Mohammad Ibrahim’s failed in the third kick to allow their opponent get back. India made good use of the opportunity as Emon’s lousy effort was saved to see the Indian’s a goal away from victory.
However, the drama did not end there. India’s Sarthak Gauli rattled the left bar post as Mannaf Rabby converted the fifth to grab the lifeline for Bangladesh. But that hardly made a difference as Rahmat fired the ball over the crossbar to gift India a 4-3 win in the tie-breaker. Mannaf, Masuk Mia Joni and Rohit Sarkar were the successful penalty takers for Bangladesh.
The 90-minute encounter, earlier, was played more conservatively by both the sides. None were able to create any clear-cut opportunity as both looked more reserved compared to their attacking approach in the group stage.
The two notable attacks of the game came in the first-half when Anisur managed to grip a grounder of Lalram in his second attempt in the 13th minute. Three minutes later, Mannaf failed to control a long ball of Rahmat having only the Indian keeper ahead.
