U20 SAFF Championship: Defending champs India knocked out

Kathmandu, August 26

The India U20 men’s national football team lost 3-4 on penalties against Bangladesh after regulation time ended 1-1 in their semifinal of the SAFF U20 Championship. Bangladesh will meet hosts Nepal in the final on Wednesday. Two crucial penalty saves by Bangladesh’s substitute goalkeeper Mohammed

Asif led to defending champion India’s ouster.

Both the teams displayed commendable defensive organisation, but Asif’s brilliance under the bar in the penalty shootout separated the two sides.

Asadul Islam Sakib put Bangladesh in the lead in the 36th minute, while captain Ricky Meetei Haobam scored in the 74th minute to bring India back into the game.

In the shootout, India made a faulty start as Thanglalsoun Gangte’s shot was saved by Asif. After Pramveer, Gwgwmsar Goyary and Manjot Parmar scored from the next three attempts, the Bangladesh custodian once again came to his team’s rescue by blocking Akash Tirkey’s last shot.

Mohammed Pias Ahmed Nova, Moinul Islam Moin, Shakil Ahad Topu, and Ashraful Haque Asif made no mistake in their first four attempts to take Bangladesh into the final.