KATHMANDU, Nov 4: Bangladesh U-15 men’s football team has lifted the SAFF U-15 Men’s Championship with a 3-2 tiebreaker win over Pakistan in Lalitpur on Saturday.
Bangladesh won the final after both the teams finished the game 1-1 in the regulation time.
Bangladeshi goalkeeper Mehdi Hasan, who came in as a substitute in half time, stopped three Pakistani players. Bangladesh scored two penalties, while it missed the other two. Bangladesh was successful to win the title as Hasan saved the crucial last penalty of Pakistan.
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Earlier in the game, Bangladesh got a gift of a goal in the 25th minute to take the lead as Pakistan captain Hasib Ahmed Khan’s headed back pass to the keeper went inside the post.
Pakistan, who made its return to international football after three years, showcased a poor performance in the first half against Bangladesh. But, Pakistani keeper Mohammad Awais saved some good chances of Bangladesh created by superb midfield performance.
Pakistan played an improved performance in the second half by creating some chances, but it failed to convert them into goals. Pakistan got one chances after another in the second period, and it finally scored a goal from the spot in the 55th minute.
It got a penalty after Bangladesh keeper Helal Ahmad fouled Pakistan’s Muddassar Nazar inside the box. Pakistan’s Mohib Ullah converted the spot kick.
Both the teams failed to score any goals in the normal time, and the game went to penalties. With the title win, Bangladesh has won the competition twice. Earlier, Bangladesh had beaten India 4-2 in tiebreaker in 2015 in its home ground to win its first title.
Earlier on the same day in the third-place playoff match, Nepal suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of India. India’s Thlacheu Vanlalruatfela scored the game’s only goal in the 18th minute to give India the win.
In the tournament participated by six teams, Pakistan’s Nihat Jama was rewarded the highest goal scorer award. He scored four goals in the tournament. Likewise, Pakistan captain Hasib Ahmed won the most valuable player of the tournament.
