Bangladesh has won the title of the SAFF U-20 Championship 2024.
In the final match held at ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur on Wednesday, Bangladesh routed Nepal 4-1, making a history in the SAFF U-20 Championship.
Even though it reached the the final of the SAFF Championship for three times in the past, it was unable to win the title.
Bangladesh became the first runner-up in the head-to-head match with Nepal in 2017. Similarly, it had lost to India in the final of the championship in 2019 and 2022.
Nepal had entered the semi-final as the group winner by defeating Bangladesh 2-1. But in the final, Nepal lost to Bangladesh.
Nepal had won the title of the SAFF Championship in 2015 and 2017.
Nepal had a grip on the match in the first half but it could not hold the same rhythm in the second half. On the other hand, Bangladesh managed to lift the trophy for the first time by capitalizing on the opportunities it received.
Even though Nepal managed to narrow the score to 3-1 with Samir's goal in the 81st minute, it was too late for the home team to make a comeback.
Bangladesh widened the lead after Rahul Hussein added another goal in the 70th minute. Prior to this, Nepal was trailing with 2-0 against Bangladesh until 54th minute when Mirajul Ismail doubled the score through a header.
In the injury time of the first half, Bangladesh took the lead 1-0 against Nepal after Mirajul Ismail scored the first goal for his team. Mirjul scored the goal by capitalizing on the free-kick awarded to Bangladesh.
Despite opportunities and having a good grip on the match in the first half, Nepal failed to score. Bangladesh took advantage of the opportunity and took the lead.
In the 31st minute of the game, Nirajan Dhami's shot went wide of the side bar. Before that, Simant Thapa's free kick flew over the crossbar in the 29th minute.
Similarly, in the 21st minute of the first half, Nirajan Dhami snatched the ball from two defenders of Bangladesh and passed it to Avinash Syangtan but the latter could not capitalize on it.
Samir Tamang had a chance to score in the 16th minute after controlling a long pass from Nirajan, but his shot missed the target.
In the ninth minute of the first half, Nirajan Dhami's long shot was brilliantly saved by the Bangladeshi goalkeeper.
Nepal had entered the final by defeating Bhutan. Similarly, it defeated Bangladesh in the group stage match to enter the semi-final as the group winner.
Likewise, group runner-up Bangladesh had entered the final by defeating India.
