Bangladesh defeats India for second consecutive win in SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship

Staff Report, PNN

In the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship, defending champions Bangladesh continued their strong performance, defeating strong India 2–0 in Pokhara, Nepal, to secure a second consecutive win in the tournament.

From the start, the Bangladeshi team played aggressively. In the 29th minute, a free-kick shot slipped past the Indian goalkeeper, and captain Arpita Biswas capitalized on the opportunity to score.

Even after taking the lead, Bangladesh maintained attacking intensity. In the 39th minute, a perfect cross from the right flank confused the Indian defense, and forward Alpi Akter skillfully scored from between two defenders. The first half ended with Bangladesh leading by two goals.

In the second half, Bangladesh controlled the game, but despite multiple attacks, they could not increase the goal tally. The match ended with a 2–0 victory for Bangladesh.

The tournament includes Nepal (host), Bangladesh, India, and Bhutan, with all four teams playing each other once in a league format. After three matches, Bangladesh leads with 6 points and a goal difference of 14. India, having lost the previous match to Nepal, has 3 points in second place. Nepal and Bhutan have not scored any points. If today’s Nepal vs. Bhutan match ends in a draw, Bangladesh will secure a spot in the final with one match remaining.