- India beat Bangladesh 1-0 to win the SAFF U-15 Championship.
- Sunita Munda scored the only goal in the match.
- The Indian team scored sixteen goals in four matches of the tournament.
The Indian women’s team were crowned champions of the SAFF U-15 Championship after defeating defending champions Bangladesh by a solitary goal in the final at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan on Saturday.
Sunita Munda’s strike in the 67th minute made all the difference between the two teams. It was a hard-fought victory with both teams having hit the woodwork once.
The Indian girls started in an attacking fashion and as early as in the second minute, Avika Singh’s free-kick rattled the bar and off the rebound, Shilky Devi’s header went inches wide of the post.
Three minutes later, Sunita Munda with a solo run burst into the rival box, only with the opposition goalkeeper to beat, she fumbled.
Thereafter, the Indian girls dominated possession and created chances almost at will. Kritina Devi’s speed down the flanks proved to be a constant threat for the opposition defence. The opposition custodian saved her shot in the 27th minute as India pressed for that inevitable goal.
However, much against the run of play, the Indian defence fumbled in the 43rd minute when defender Ritu failed to clear her ball, allowing Bangladesh a clear shot at the goal. But striker Anuching Mogini failed to find the net from close range as both teams headed to the interval locked on 0-0.
In the second half, the trend stayed the same with the Indian girls dominating possession and they were finally rewarded in the 67th minute.
In the 66th minute, Avika Singh found Sunita Munda in the box but the rival defence managed to clear it for a corner. However a minute later, Sunita found the back of the net after she connected Lynda Kom’s cross.
With not many options in hand, Bangladesh went all out in the attack. In the 76th minute, Bangladesh hit the bar. However, the Indian defence stood stern and goalkeeper Manish made agile saves in the dying minutes of the game.
The Indian team scored sixteen goals in four matches of the tournament and conceded just one goal throughout the Championship.
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