Following a major debate on Thursday, India and Bangladesh were named joint winners of the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championships.
After intense dispute on Thursday, India and Bangladesh were named joint winners of the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship. The fans and the Bangladeshi squad did not take the coin toss well when India was proclaimed the winner after the teams were knotted at 11-11 in the penalty shootout. Both the squad and the home fans staged massive protests after which, eventually, it was decided to proclaim Bangladesh and India as joint champions. Following India’s 1-1 victory in regulation time, the audience threw bottles and other objects to show their disapproval.
The authorities swiftly led the Indian players off the field, and after approximately two hours of deliberation, the decision was made to present the trophy to both teams.
M Satyanarayan, Acting Secretary General of the AIFF, stated: “India, despite being proclaimed winners after the coin toss, agreed to accept the officials’ proposal for sharing the trophy because the scene was tense and a part of the home fans was discovered causing disturbances. Because the security of the players and other team officials is our top consideration, the AIFF agreed to the organisers’ request.”
Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam’s early goal gave India the lead for most of the match, but Sagorika’s injury-time equalizer put the hosts back in the lead and forced penalties. Following an incredible penalty shootout in which all players on the field converted their penalties, the referee conducted a coin toss to decide the winner, with the score still tied at 11–11.
Bangladesh had the upper hand in possession over India in the first half, but the Young Tigresses were more sharp in the second half. It was a harbinger of things to come when, in the second minute, Sulanjana Raul launched Neha into acres of space and goalie Swarna Rani Mandal swiped the ball off her feet.
It seems sense that there was a lot of interest in the final among the local football community. An enormous crowd had gathered at the stadium well in advance of the final, with Bangladesh’s chances of winning a second straight title looming large.
They arrived carrying flags, banners, and drums and bugles. However, India pulled off another masterful move, with skipper Nitu Linda displaying outstanding vision to unleash Sibani behind the Bangladeshi defenders, dealing a devastating blow to the passionate crowd’s joyous attitude. The quick winger had enough cunning to avoid it the first time around over the charging Swarna. In a matter of minutes, Sibani had another opportunity to score when her half-volley narrowly missed the crossbar.
However, India was unable to hold onto the lead and gave up the equalizer long into the second half’s added time. Linda’s header cleared into Sagorika’s path, and she tapped it past Anika, matching her goal against India in the group stage at the precise minute—the ninetieth.
Returning to the remainder of the game, Raul performed a good job as a false nine, repeatedly feeding Sibani and Neha on overlaps. Her fast feet and swift turns frequently left the hosts flat.
India put up a strong defensive, forcing Bangladesh to take a shot at it from a distance. Before putting her second attempt on target, Sapna Rani first sent a 25-yard shot high and wide. Anika Devi Sharubam easily recovered the rebound for her first save of the game.
India appeared more likely to score a second goal than an equalizer for Bangladesh during the better part of the second half. The Young Tigresses had a fantastic opportunity in the 54th minute when Sibani found Neha with a diagonal pass inside the box. Neha reached for the end of it, but Swarna quickly gathered it before she could get to Pooja.
Neha spent the rest of the match right in the thick of things. Raul headed her cross from the left wide a few minutes later. Bangladesh’s strength throughout the competition has been their corners, and they did pose a threat. Sapna’s delivery was first headed over by Surma Jannat, and then she smacked the crossbar straight from her inswinging corner.
Neha also struck the bar with a sharp left-footed effort from the edge of the box in the 88th minute, but from the other end. Five minutes later, Bangladesh equalized the score, meaning that India’s last chance to win in regulation time was gone.
The eleventh and final penalty of the shoot-out was scored by goalkeeper Anika, one of the players from India’s starting eleven who all converted their attempts. Anika would have felt unlucky since she jumped in the correct direction for six of the eleven shots but was unable to make a save, even though Bangladesh was quite clinical.
