Colombo: India’s Under-17 men’s football team won the SAFF Under-17 Championship. The young Indian players defeated Bangladesh in a thrilling final in Colombo on Saturday. The match went to a penalty shootout after the two teams were tied 2-2 after regulation time and extra time. India won 4-1 on penalties to clinch their seventh SAFF Under-17 title.
India took the lead in the fourth minute through a goal by Dallalmun Gangte. Bangladesh later equalized through a goal by Mohammed Mani, but Azlan Shah Khan scored again just before the end of the first half to give India the lead. While India wasted opportunities to end the game, Bangladesh made the match more dramatic with an equalizer scored by Ihsan Habib Ridwan in the 97th minute.
However, the young ‘Blue Colts’ did not lose their presence of mind in the penalty shootout. Gangte, Koro Meitei Konthaujam, Indra Rana Magar and Shubham Punia all scored from the penalty spot. Goalkeeper Manashjyoti Barua saved one Bangladeshi attempt and hit the crossbar to seal the victory for India. The victory was coach Bibiano Fernandes’ fifth overall SAFF title and his second in five months after the Under-19 triumph earlier this year.
