Ravi Bahadur's late goal wins India its maiden SAFF U18 Championship title
India claimed their maiden SAFF U18 Championship title by overcoming a stiff challenge from Bangladesh in the final at the APF Stadium in Kathmandu on Sunday evening. Ravi Bahadur Rana scored the winning goal in the stoppage time after the match was hanging in the balance for 50 minutes.
The Indian colts were favourites to win the title decider after a 4-0 rout of the Maldives in the semi-finals. Floyd Pinto’s men took the offensive route taking the lead as early as in the 2nd minute. Vikram Pratap Singh got his name on the scoresheet by outwitting his marker.
Bangladesh’s Yeasin Arafat levelled the scoreline in the 40th minute and they nearly stretched the tie to extra-time, but Ravi Bahadur Rana shattered their title aspirations by netting the winner in the 1st minute of the stoppage time.
Coach Floyd Pinto was thrilled with the win and lauded his boys for the successful campaign, especially Ravi’s ‘moment of brilliance’ which made the difference between the two sides.
“I had maintained that it will take a moment of brilliance to end this SAFF Championship, and it was fitting that Ravi finished it off with a wonderful strike. We were not just the best footballing team in the tournament, but also the most effective team. I am really happy for the boys. They earned it. The sacrifices and the commitment of the boys was exemplary,” said Pinto minutes after the triumph as reported by aiff.com.
India became the first country apart from Nepal to win the biennial event. Meanwhile, India’s Ninthoinganba Meitei was awarded as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.