Bangladesh girls clinch SAFF U-15 title beating India

FE Team | Published: December 24, 2017 23:44:12

Bangladesh girls have clinched the first-ever SAFF U-15 Championship by beating India 1-0.
The hosts remained unbeaten, conceding no goals during the tournament. After crushing Nepal 6-0 in their first match, the girls beat Bhutan 3-0 and India 3-0 in the run up to the finals, reports bdnews24.com.
Bangladesh played aggressively from kickoff at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the city's Kamalapur on Sunday.
India mounted their first counterattack in the ninth minute, but the free-kick by Pavithra Murugesan flew straight into the waiting gloves of goalkeeper Mahmuda Akhter.
Bangladesh seemed ready to pull ahead in the 22nd minute when Anuching Mogini found herself in a one-on-one situation, but her strike was deflected away by Indian goalkeeper Shijagurumayum Monika Devi.
Tohura Khatun displayed some fireworks in the 32nd minute, cutting past two defenders, only to have a difficult shot graze off the post. Bangladesh finally found success before the half, when defender Shamsunnahar, in her second goal of the tournament, capitalised on a ball deflected away by Devi.
The hosts had a chance to extend their lead just after the break with a corner, but Anuching's header sailed over the crossbar. She had another chance in the 57th minute, but the strike was punched away by Indian goalie.