In a dramatic final, India held its nerve to beat Bangladesh 4-1, securing its seventh SAFF U-17 Championship title at the Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
After the score remained 2-2 at the end of regulation time, Dallalmuon Gangte, Korou Meitei Konthoujam, and Indra Rana Magar converted with aplomb before Shubham Poonia slotted home the decisive fourth kick for India.
Bangladesh, by contrast, crumbled under pressure, with only Md Manik converting from their three attempts.
India earlier broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, when Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam whipped in a cross from the left, which, after a rebound, was struck in by Gangte.
Bangladesh eventually grew into the game, finding the equaliser 20 minutes later when Manik nodded in Nazmul Huda Faysal’s corner. However, the Blue Colts got their noses in front again when K.H. Azlaan Shah’s left-footed hit rattled the net seven minutes from the break.
Bangladesh started the second half eyeing redemption and got it in the dying moments of regulation time when Ihsan Habib Riduan latched on to a loose ball off a long throw from Md Sabbir Islam to restore parity and force the contest into the shootout, in which India ruled the roost.
It was the fifth SAFF title for India’s coach, Bibano Fernandes, and the second in less than five months, adding to the SAFF U19 crown won in Arunachal Pradesh in May.
Match result:
Bangladesh 2 (1) (Md Manik 24’, Ihsan Habib Riduan 90+7’) lost to India 2 (4) (Dallalmuon Gangte 4’, K.H. Azlaan Shah 38’)
Published on Sep 27, 2025
