SAFF U-16 Champs: India to play Bangladesh in final Tuesday

SYLHET: With the sweet memory of beating holders India 2-1 in group match last week, hosts Bangladesh will play the neighbouring country again in the final of the 3rd version of the six-nation SAFF U-16 Championship at the Sylhet Stadium here on Tuesday (Aug 18). Group A champion Bangladesh, riding on Saaduddin’s goal in the 54th minute, smartly reached their first-ever final of the SAFF U-16 Championship with all-win record eliminating Group B runners-up Afghanistan by 1-0 goal in the first semifinal at the crowd-packed Sylhet Stadium Sunday afternoon. Group A runners-up India confirmed their berth in the final eliminating Group B champions Nepal, also by 1-0 goal, in the 2nd semifinal at the same venue on Sunday evening. Rahim Ali scored the match-winner for India in the 22nd minute of the 2nd semifinal. Hosts Bangladesh advanced to the semifinal in the 11-day South Asian soccer meet from group A eliminating all-losers Sri Lanka by 4-0 goals in the first match on August 11 and later they shocked defending champions India by 2-1 goals in the last group match to be the group champion August 13. India also assured the semifinal berth from the same group beating Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals in the tournament opener on August 9. Nepal sealed their semifinal berth as the Group B champion outplaying all- losers Maldives by 5-0 and Afghanistan by 4-2 goals while Afghanistan moved into the semis from same group beating the Maldives, according to a news agency---Aminul.