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SAFF U-20 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2023

Bangladesh-India battle ends in a stalemate

Staff Correspondent
06 Feb 2023 00:00:00 | Update: 06 Feb 2023 00:44:59
Bangladesh-India battle ends in a stalemate
Bangladesh forward Shahida Akter Ripa runs with the ball during their SAFF U-20 Championship match against India at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday – Courtesy Photo

Champions of the tournament India were held to a goalless draw by the hosts, Bangladesh, in their match at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.

India entered the tournament as the champions, and started the tournament in a champions’ style when the trashed Bhutan 12-0, but were held to a goalless draw by the Bangladesh tigresses.

Both the side were keen to score a goal but failed to break the deadlock. India enjoyed the majority of the possession, but Bangladeshi defenders, led by the skipper Shamsunnahar, did their job well to stop every attack Indian forwards came up with.

In the 13th minute of the game, Indian number 10 Sumati Kumari missed a chance but in the 30th minute India scored a goal which was called off by the referee as it was offside.

Bangladesh’s Shamsunnahar and Sapna Rani had their chances in front of the Indian goal, but they couldn’t finish. Rupa Chakma, the Bangladeshi goal keeper was brilliant as she made some outstanding saves to protect the goal.

Both Bangladesh and India started the tournament with a win. In their first match Bangladesh beat Nepal 3-1, Aklima Khatun scored the first goal early in the match, Shamsunnaharand and Shaheda Akter Ripa later increased the goal difference for them.

As the match ended in a draw, both teams shared points. India, however, are still the table toppers as they have a huge +12 goal difference. Bangladesh, with the same points as India are second in the table.

In the other match of the Nepal U-20 Women’s team beat Bhutan 4-0 at the same venue. For Nepal, Amisha Karki scored the first and second goal in 19th and 45+2 minutes respectively, Preeti Rai scored the third goal in 61st minute, and Amisha Karki scored the fourth goal in 63rd minute.

The standings did not alter for Nepal even after winning the match as they had conceded two goals in their first match, they are now in the third place.

The junior women’s football competition debuted in 2018 as a competition for players under the age of 18. The last edition, in 2022, returned to the Under-18 format whereas the second edition, in 2021, was an Under-19 event. The event will host Under-20 for the first time during the fourth edition of the tournament.

Bangladesh will face Bhutan on Tuesday in the same venue at 7pm.

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