Finance
The Indian boys’ football team won the SAFF U-17 Championship on Wednesday, defeating a 10-man Nepal 4-0 in the final at the Racecourse International Stadium.
Boby Singh, Korou Singh, captain Vanlalpeka Guite, and Aman each scored a goal to help India to a resounding victory. With this victory, India reclaimed the title previously known as the SAFF U-15 Championship.
Nepal defeated India 3-1 in the group league. However, in the final, India appeared to be a team eager to seize complete control of the proceedings from the start.
They got off to a fast start, looking for gaps in the Nepal defense, and took the lead in the 18th minute through Boby, who headed it in at the far post after good play between Ricky Meetei and Vanlalpeka Guite, as the latter sailed a cross towards the eventual goalscorer.
Guite was back in the thick of things 12 minutes later, when he played a through ball to Korou Singh, who just had to round the keeper and slot it home.
With the second goal, Nepal began attacking the Indian half with greater zeal, but the Indian midfield was able to frustrate their efforts.
The frustration was evident in the 39th minute, when Nepal captain Prashant Laksam elbowed Danny Laishram on the back after the two became entangled in a challenge – an action that was immediately sanctioned by the referee with a red card.
With the man advantage, India finished the first half before resuming play after the change of ends. Soon after, Guite, who had previously assisted on two goals, netted his own in the 63rd minute, when his cross from the left swerved into the top corner, giving India a three-goal lead.
Dhan Singh, Nepal’s second-half substitute, did create a couple of chances for his team in the final minutes, but the one-man advantage meant that India were able to thwart the efforts.
At the other end, India’s second-half substitute Aman scored the fourth goal in injury time after being set through behind the Nepal defense. By the end of the game, India had successfully defended their title.
Vanlalpeka Guite, India’s captain, was named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, while Sahil was named Best Goalkeeper.
“I am extremely proud of my boys. There has been a lot of hard work put in, and every support staff, and player deserves equal credit,” said head coach Bibiano Fernandes.
“The efforts put in by AIFF at the youth level by providing us continuous exposure tours with help from SAI has helped the boys mature,” he added.
Source:OCN
