Bangladesh U19 delivered a commanding performance to beat India U19 2-0 in Match 3 of the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship 2026 at the Pokhara Rangasala Stadium in Nepal on Monday, underlining their growing dominance in the regional game.
After withstanding an energetic opening spell from India, the Young Tigresses gradually imposed themselves with sharper movement, superior organisation and clinical finishing. The breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute when captain Aprita Biswas reacted quickest to a teasing free-kick delivery, bundling the ball home after the Indian goalkeeper failed to deal with the bounce at the far post.
Bangladesh continued to exploit defensive lapses from India and doubled their advantage just before the break. Alpi Akter timed her run perfectly to beat the offside trap and rifled a first-time finish past the advancing keeper, capping a dominant first-half display that left India U19 struggling to contain the pace and precision of the Bengal Tigers.
The second half saw Bangladesh manage the game with maturity. They created several openings to extend the lead, with Munki Akter narrowly missing from a set-piece and Alpi again threatening with clever movement between the lines. India showed intent after the restart and pressed higher up the pitch, but Bangladesh’s compact backline and assured goalkeeping ensured there was no way back.
With this win, Bangladesh sit comfortably at the top of the table with six points from two matches, having scored an astonishing 14 goals without conceding any — a record that leaves them all but assured of a place in the final, though confirmation will come only after the remaining fixtures.
India, who have fielded their U17 side in the tournament as part of preparations for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in China later this year, having opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over hosts Nepal.
