Given that the competition served as the vast majority of the team’s first overseas assignment, India’s victory was all the more amazing.
The Blue Colts took a more aggressive tack in the second half after adopting a wait-and-see strategy for the first 45 minutes, and they triumphed resoundingly 3-0 over Pakistan at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu on Saturday to win the SAFF Men’s U19 championship.
It was India’s sixth SAFF championship youth title.
Manglenthang Kipgen, a replacement, triumphed as the Indians’ hero once more. After his tensely successful winning penalty kick against the host Nepal in the semifinal on Wednesday, Kipgen scored the first two goals to put an end to Pakistan’s hopes.
Kipgen also contributed to the third goal, which Gwgwmsar Goyary scored in extra time to put an end to Pakistan’s chances of winning the match (at that point, Pakistan had been down to a 10-man squad).
At the start of the second half, with the score still tied at 0-0, Kipgen was substituted in for Ebindas Yesudasan.
However, Azan’s clearance was ineffective, and the ball eventually found its way to Sahil Khurshid. The young Indian forward, though, found it difficult to stay balanced and his shot lacked sufficient force. Sahil Gul, the custodian for Pakistan, had little trouble stopping the attempt as a result.
