SAFF U-16 FOOTBALL
Bangladesh dethrone India; clinch maiden title
Bangladesh claimed their maiden SAFF Under-16 Football Championship trophy with a 4-2 victory over defending champions India in tiebreaker after the 1-1 fulltime score line of a pulsating final at Sylhet District Stadium yesterday.
The maiden victory erupted celebrations across the country, particularly in Sylhet, as fans continued their victory party till midnight.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated the U-16 football team for their victory. Both of them extended their greetings to players, coach and officials of the team as well as Bangladesh Football Federation officials.
In the regulation 90-minute time, Fahim Murshed put Bangladesh into lead and Avinesh levelled the arrear for India. In the tiebreaker, Fahim Murshed, Sajib, Atique and Saaduddin converted the spot kicks into goals for Bangladesh. On the other hand, Suresh Meher and Mohammed Rakib scored for India in the penalty shootout while Avijit Sarkars attempt shattered the side post and Saqlin Khans effort was brilliantly saved by Bangladesh goalkeeper Faisal.
Bangladesh took time to assume their real character of quick attacks using both the wings, while India were in upper hands with better ball possession. The Indians dominated the game for almost 15 minutes but failed to create any real chances to score goals.
Bangladesh, in the early stage, looked disorganised and were playing with plenty of miss passes and gradually came out to take the command and started sharing the ball possession evenly.
In fact, rain soaked Sylhet District Stadium was not at all good enough to display usual game, as players from both sides failed to control the ball perfectly and most of the time slipped in the greasy ground.
However, in the first half, Bangladesh were closer to score a goal when Mostajeb Khans header on a Fahim Murshed cross went out just kissing the cross bar in the 23rd minute.
After the goalless first half, boys from both sides looked more hostile to score goals. Backing by the some 25,000 impartial crowd helped Bangladesh take the lead inside second minute after resumption of play in the second half. Fahim Murshed broke the deadlock sending the ball into the nets off a Mohammed Ridoy cross (1-0).
Inspired by the lead, Bangladesh became more adamant and played with full command and went closer to double the advantage but Saaduddin, after a solo run, shot the ball straight to goalkeeper rather than placing the ball into the far post in the 50th minute.
India were also about to mend the margin but Bangladesh goalkeeper Faisal Ahmed denied a close range effort in the 55th minute and a mistake of Faisal also looked threatening when referee directed for an indirect free kick from inside the box.
India brought silence in the gallery when Avinesh marked the target with a long range shot as Bangladesh goalkeeper failed to save despite jumping high into the air in the 63rd minute (1-1).
After the one all, Bangladesh bettered their Indian counterpart with strong attacks along both the left and right wings and also went close to finish the game in the schedule 90 minutes but they could not finish successfully some of their sharp attacks.
Bangladesh could regain the lead in the 79th minute but Fahim Murshed wasted the easiest chance of the match when the striker was fully unmarked inside the danger area but he shot the ball outside the far post rather than sending the ball into the near post.
Rest of the time Bangladesh played with full domination but failed to regain the lead and the referee called for a tie-breaker after the schedule 90 minutes.
