Bangladesh boys lift SAFF title beating Pakistan

Bangladesh clinched the six-nation SAFF U-15 Championship title with an all-win record beating Pakistan by 3-2 goals in penalty shootout as the final match between two teams was locked in 1-1 goals in the stipulated period at ANFA Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal on Saturday, reports UNB.

With this victory, Bangladesh not only clinched the maiden title of the SAFF U-15 Championship, but also took revenge of their 0-2 goals defeat against Pakistan in the SAFF-16 Championship in 2011.

In 2015, Bangladesh boys also clinched the SAFF U-16 Championship title at their home ground in Sylhet beating India in the final, also in tiebreaker.

The day’s final match was locked in 1-1 goals during the stipulated period with Hasib Ahmed scoring for Bangladesh in the 25th minute (1-0) while Mohobullah leveled the margin for Pakistan in the 54th minute from a penalty (1-1), forcing the match towards the tiebreaker.

Like the semifinal against India, Bangladesh custodian also saved two Pakistan spot kicks of Adnan Justin and Mudassar Nazar in the tiebreaker guided Bangladesh to their long-cherished title.

Earlier, India finished 3rd beating hosts Nepal by 1-0 goal in the 3rd place deciding match at the same venue Saturday morning with Thalacheu Vanlalruatfela scoring match-winner in the 18th minute.

Bangladesh smartly reached the final of the six-nation South Asian U-15 soccer meet with an all-win record eliminating their neighbor India by 4-2 goals in tiebreaker as the first semifinal between them was locked 1-1 goals at ANFA Complex in Lalitpur on Thursday last.

In the day’s 2nd semifinal, Pakistan made an easy passage to the final eliminating hosts Nepal by 4-0 goals at the same venue on Thursday afternoon.