SAFF women’s U-15 Championship | India held to 1-1 draw by Bangladesh

India were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in their penultimate group stage match of the SAFF U-15 Women’s Championship in Thimphu on Sunday. Amisha Baxla scored the lone goal for Indian in the 24th minute to put them ahead. However, the lead was short-lived as two minutes later Sapna Rani equalised for Bangladesh. Both India and Bangladesh finished the group stage with seven points. However, India finished on top of the group by virtue of better goal difference which was helped by the 10-1 drubbing of Bhutan in their previous match. 

India looked to play their attacking brand of football and dominated possession from the start, with Astam Oraon bossing the midfield. India finally broke the deadlock on the 24th minute as Astam assisted an unmarked Baxla through a cross from the left, and the latter finished it past the Bangladesh keeper.

India’s lead was not one to last, as a couple of minutes later Bangladesh forward Sapna latched on to a loose ball and chipped it over India keeper Adrija Sarkhel to equalise the scores. India kept probing at the Bangladesh defence, and Sai Sankhe, who was the hat-trick hero in the second match against Bhutan, had the best chance of the game for India. She was played in on goal via an aerial through ball from fullback Jyoti Kumari and had only the keeper to beat. However, her attempted chip went whiskers away from the far post.

India slowly started to claw their way back in the game and second-half substitute Kiran looked lively down the left flank. She created the best chance of the half as she ran down the left, and cut it back for Baxla, but the latter was denied a second goal by the keeper.

Lynda had another chance from a goal-mouth scramble with a couple of minutes of regulation time left, but her reflex shot went over the crossbar. The two sides will lock horns again in the final at the Chalimithang Stadium on Tuesday.