Bangladesh see semi exit vs India 

Bangladesh Under-17 national football team crashed out of the semi-finals of the U17 Men’s SAFF Championship 2022 as they lost 2-1 against rivals India at the Colombo Racecourse in Sri Lanka on Monday.

The boys in red and green failed to keep up their goal-scoring prowess in the competition as they tried to come back from being 2-0 down early in the second half.

India striker Thanglalsoun Gangti netted a brace within 15 minutes of the restart and Bangladesh’s Mirajul Islam converted a penalty to reduce the gap.

With this loss, Bangladesh, in yet another SAFF Championship, failed to overcome their Indian adversaries. Earlier this year, the under-20 side lost 5-2 against India in the final of the U20 SAFF Championship in April.

Bangladesh were in a goal-scoring frenzy as they netted 10 goals in the two matches against Sri Lanka, and Maldives leading up to the semi-final.

For Monday’s game, Bangladesh players promised a feisty contest as they said they were raring to take on India. But that energy was cancelled out by the Indians as they managed to keep away the Bangladeshi forwards.

The first 45 minutes delivered a dull affair, with Bangladesh leading the line with one striker, and the Indians taming them with their organised football.

The second half brought out the intent of the two teams with India taking the initiative. Gangti produced something speacial as his left-footed strike sailed into the top corner from 30 yards.

Eight minutes later, he was at it again as he delivered a smart finish from a cross down the right flank.

Paul Smalley’s troops were given a lifeline in the 61st minute when an Indian defender brought down Mirajul inside the box. The striker smartly converted the penalty to reduce the deficit but for the remaining minutes, Bangladesh failed to find the net as they crashed out of the semis.