SAFF U18 Championship | India share spoils with Bangladesh in opening tie
The Indian U18 team was held to a 0-0 against Bangladesh in their first fixture of the ongoing SAFF U18 Championship at the APF Stadium in Kathmandu on Monday afternoon. India suffered an early setback when custodian Prabhsukhan Gill was forced to leave the field after suffering an injury.
Floyd Pinto’s boys took the offensive root from the starting whistle but could not convert. The coach had to replace the first-choice goalkeeper in the ninth minute. Bangladesh summoned more men in the defensive area which denied the Indians any penetration in the final third.
A header from Sumit Rathi in the 36th minute narrowly missed the target and sailed over the crosspiece. After the change of the ends, the Indians held possession and continued to dictate terms but failed to create goal-scoring opportunities.
India made a couple of attacking changes which did not prove effective for the team. Bangladesh held on to the scoreline and grabbed a vital point.
Lauding the effort put in by the players, Floyd Pinto admitted that the game was a difficult one. He assured that the quality of football from his boys will increase as the tournament progresses.
"Bangladesh defended with 10 men, and I have to give credit to the boys for not stopping to put in the effort. We have got a point from this match but it is a minor thing. But these boys will improve as the tournament progresses, and their quality of football will also improve,” said the coach.
India is scheduled to play against Sri-Lanka on Wednesday. Top two teams from the group will qualify for the semi-finals on September 27.