Substitute goalkeeper Mohammed Asif denied two spot kicks, as Bangladesh secured the final birth of the SAFF Under-20, 2024 Football Championship defeating India by 5-3 in tie-breaker on Monday. Held at the ANFA Complex, Kathmandu, 90 minutes scheduled time of the semifinal match was ended on a 1-1 draw.
Arshadul Mollah led Bangladesh on 35th minute and Indian stopper-back Pramveer levelled the margin on 75th minute as the matches headed to penalty shoot-out.
The youngsters of Bangladesh converted all their four shots and did not need to take the fifth, as Indian booters could marked the target for three times, as Bangladesh keeper denied two shots.
Bangladesh, who onset with attacking approach and took the possession with solid performances in the first half to overcome the stalwart Indian hurdle to move into the final, having drawn the scheduled 90 minutes game.
But in the penalty shoot-out, the substitute custodian Mohammed Asif was confident under the bar when he blocked two shots of Indian players and eased Bangladesh settling the final birth. It is the successive fourth times Bangladesh moved into the final of the SAFF U-20 championship.
However, Arshadul Mollah opened the scoring in the 35th minute when he sent a pinpointed left-side cross of unmarked Rabbi Hossain Rahul into the bottom corner of near post.
It was a quick counter attack, when goalkeeper and the team’s captain Mehedi Hassan Srabon took a long shot that landed at Indian half. Bangladesh forwards built up the attack down the left and Rahul superbly edged past two of his markers before set a cross for unmarked Arshadul, who had no trouble to seal the rout with a tap-in into near post (1-0).
Bangladesh, Although were dominated possession, struggled to breach Indian's ultra-defensive approach in a slow-paced first-half, despite going closer and produced chances failed to double the advantage. Their lackluster efforts following some solo runs from the forwards could not mark the targets.
India, who bounced back strongly after the break and played almost one-sided game, put Bangladesh under tremendous pressure and equalized the margin on 75th minute through Pramveen.
This time Bangladesh defenders looked very undisciplined and could not clear a free kick despite having time and the defender Pramveen, who rushed into the box fired home to equalise the margin (1-1).
India went very closer to score goals from several occasions but they were unfortunate not having two goals, as one of the efforts saved just from the goal-ling by a defender and another one was missed by Indian forward, when he failed to send the ball into net having Bangladesh keeper one and one situation.
Finally the scheduled time was ended on 1-1 draw and the game headed to tie-breaker and Bangladesh made it success snatching the victory with 5-3 win.
Bangladesh will take on the hosts Nepal in the final, might be it would be also a great challenge for the boys of Red and Green when they suffered 0-2 defeat to them in their group stage match.
