The Indian U-17 men’s national team brushed aside Nepal with a comprehensive 3-0 victory to book its place in the SAFF U-17 Championship 2025 final at the Racecourse International Stadium on Thursday.
It will face Bangladesh in the summit clash, which earlier defeated Pakistan 2-0.
Wangkheirakpam Gunleiba (61’) and substitutes K.H. Azlaan Shah (80’) and Diamond Singh Thokchom (90+4’) scored in what was the fourth consecutive win for India in the tournament.
The only concern for head coach Bibiano Fernandes’ side was the lack of clinical finishing, an issue that prevented it from going into the break with a comfortable cushion.
Those worries were cleared after the hour mark when Denny Singh Wangkhem fed a low ball from the right to Gangte, who cleverly dummied the pass, wrong-footing the entire Nepal backline and goalkeeper.
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The ball landed at the feet of Gunleiba, who calmly slotted it home to open the scoring and break Nepal’s resistance.
The second goal came off a classic counter-attack in the 80th minute when substitute Azlaan received a pass down the left and charged forward with blistering pace.
A sharp change of direction left his marker stumbling, before he unleashed a thunderous and spectacular strike into the net.
India wrapped up the match in stoppage time when Gunleiba’s low cross beat the Nepal defence and fell invitingly for another substitute, Diamond Singh Thokchom, who tapped in from close range.
Published on Sep 25, 2025