The India U-18 girls football team were declared champions of the SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship 2022 at the JRD TATA Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Friday, March 25.
The Indian eves emerged as champions as they registered a better goal difference (+11) than Bangladesh (+3).
In the final match of the championship, Bangladesh scraped past India to win the game by 1-0 thanks to Most Aklima Khatun's 74th-minute strike.
India got as early as the fifth minute to open the scoring, with midfielder Shubhangi finding space in the opposition box and attempted a shot at target that safely kept down by Bangladesh custodian Rupna.
In the 40th minute, the hosts came close to scoring once again as Nitu's shot past Rupna rebound from the post and returned into the opposition goalkeeper's safe hands. It turned out to be the last piece of solid action before the interval.
Rupna would once again deny India a chance at grabbing the opening goal in the fixture as she managed to stop India captain Shilky Devi's 60th-minute long-range effort.
Come the 74th minute, Bangladesh switched their approach to attack and Most Aklima Khatun would score the opening - and later the only goal - of the fixture with a long shot from outside the box that found the bottom corner of the India net.
India's Lynda Kom was named the Valuable Player of the Tournament and finished as the highest goal scorer, as she scored five goals in total including a hat-trick in a recent 5-1 win over Nepal.
Featured photo: AIFF Media
