Sagorika guides defending champions Bangladesh to the final of the four-nation SAFF U-19 Women's Championship '2024 with one match to spare beating India by 1-0 goal in their 2nd match at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur here Sunday evening.
This was the 3rd consecutive win for Bangladesh against India in the SAFF U-19 Women's meet after clinching the previous title beating India twice in the league match and also in the final.
With the day's well merited victory, hosts Bangladesh comfortably dominated points table with all win run securing full six points from two straight league matches while India followed them collecting three points from two matches.
In the day's nerve shattering 2nd round match, Sagorika guided bangladesh to the final of the meet beating giant India by 1-0 goal in the 2nd minute of the stoppage time (90+2) by a brilliant placing shot in between two opponent defenders, utilizing a long pass from captain Afeida Khandakar.
This was the 3rd goal for Sagorika in the ongoing meet after scoring two goals against Nepal in tournament opener last Friday.
In the remaining league matches, Bangladesh will play lowly Bhutan at 7:pm on Tuesday while India will battle with Nepal at 3: pm to assure the remaining final berth, also on Tuesday (February 6) at the same venue.
Earlier, the Young Tigresses made a good start in thr meet beating Himalayan nation Nepal by 3-1 goals while India also made a flying start crushing Bhutan by 10-0 goals last Friday.
In the day's first match, Nepal U-19 Women's team beat Bhutan U-19 Women's side by 1-0 goal to stay in the title race of the four- nation SAFF U-19 Women' s Championship at the same venue Sunday afternoon.
After a barren first half, Senu Pariyar scored the match winning goal for Nepal in the 54th minute of the day's dull and hopeless match infront of only 60 soccer fans at the stadium.
Nepal are now in the 3rd slot securing three points from two matches beating all loser Bhutan 1-0.
The final match between top two teams of four nations meet will be held on February 8 at 6 pm.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
