Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Under-20 National Football team reached the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-20 Championship defeating India Under-20 National Football team by 4-3 goals in the tie-breaker of the semi-final at ANFA Complex in Nepal on Monday.
Bangladesh led the first half 1-0.
Asadul Molla of Bangladesh put his team ahead using a left-side cross of his teammate Rabby Hossen Rahul in the 36th minute of the match.
After the lemon-break, Rickey Miiti of India equalised the margin in the 75th minute of the game.
As the ninety-minute match ended in a 1-1 draw, the fate of the match was decided in the tie-breaker.
In the 69th minute of the match, goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon got injury. Thus, substitute goalkeeper Asif arrived in the field and he was the hero for the victory of Bangladesh Under-20 Football team against India Under-20 Football team. Asif saved the first shot of the penalty-kick of the opponent footballer of India and later he thwarted the last kick of the Indian booter.
On the other hand, the four footballers of Bangladesh got success in the penalty shoot-out.
Piash Ahmed Nova, Parvez Ahmed, Shakil Ahad Topu and Moinul Islam found the net in the penalty shoot-out. Thus, Bangladesh did not need to kick the fifth shot.
Bangladesh lost to Nepal by 1-2 goals in their Group-A match. Thus, Bangladesh became runners-up in the Group-A.
Bangladesh U-20 Football team will face Nepal Under-20 Football team in the final of the SAFF U-20 Championship tomorrow at the same venue. The final match will start at 3:15pm (Bangladesh Standard Time). If Bangladesh can defeat Nepal in the final Bangladesh will clinch the title of the SAFF U-20 Football Championship.
Bangladesh U-20 National Football squad : Mehedi Hasan Srabon, Asif, Ismail Hossain Mahin, Imran Khan, Mohammad Azizul Hoque, Ananto, Shakil Ahad Topu, Rajib Hossain, Rostom Islam Dukhu Mia, Parvej Ahmed, Kamacai Marma Aky, Asadul Islam Sakib, Chandon Roy, Ashraful Haque Asif, Mohsin Ahmed, Iftiar Hossain, Rabby Hossen Rahul, Razu Ahmed Zisan, Hossain Mohammad Arian, Asadul Molla, Iftasam Rahman Jidan, Mirajul Islam, Piash Ahmmed Nova and Moinul Islam Moin.