Bangladesh beat champions India but finish runners-up in SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship

If only Bangladesh had played like this against Bhutan. That regret is inevitable now. But regrets do not change anything. The dream of winning the SAFF U-17 Women's Championship ended for the girls after a draw with Bhutan in their fifth match. Today, by beating newly crowned champions India 4-3, Mahbubur Rahman's team only deepened that sense of what might have been.

At the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bangladesh played with freedom. Despite already securing the title, India fielded their strongest XI. Bangladesh struck within the first 25 seconds, when Purnima Marma headed in a cross from Mamoni Chakma.

In the 9th minute, sloppy defending allowed India's Anushka Kumari to equalise. But India could not hold on for long. In the 34th minute, Alpi Akter's powerful strike found the net after deflecting off the goalkeeper's hand.

Bangladesh made it 3-1 in the 48th minute, when Sauravi Akand, exploiting India's high defensive line, fired home a superb finish from the edge of the box. It was her sixth goal of the tournament.

Even with a two-goal cushion, Bangladesh's defence looked vulnerable, and India took advantage. In the 65th minute, Pritika Barman scored with a long-range effort that sailed over the goalkeeper. Then in the 88th minute, Bangladesh conceded a third goal.

But in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Sauravi struck again. Her initial shot was fumbled by Indian goalkeeper Muni, and as she tried to recover, the ball deflected off a defender and crossed the line. The referee credited the goal to Sauravi, her seventh of the tournament.

India's players could not hold back their tears after the defeat. Their reaction showed that, even as champions, they did not want to lose in this manner. It was also their first defeat of the competition.

Bangladesh's 1-1 draw with hosts Bhutan last Friday had already ended their title hopes. In the other match that day, India thrashed Nepal 5-0 to seal the championship with a game to spare. After six matches, India finished on 15 points, Bangladesh on 13.

Since 2017, Bangladesh have won seven of their nine titles in women's football at age-group level. The SAFF U-17 crown remains the only missing piece. They were runners-up in last year's edition as well, losing to invited side Russia in the final.