Indian football team beats Bangladesh in final to win title

The Indian men’s football team won the SAFF U19 Championship 2025 title after defeating Bangladesh 4-3 on penalties at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, on Sunday.

The football match had ended 1-1 after regulation time. India had taken the lead in the second minute through captain Singamayum Shami before Bangladesh equalised in the 61st minute through Md Joy Ahamed.

In the shootout, Rohen Singh’s weak second penalty gave Bangladesh the upper hand after their keeper Md Ismail Hossain Mahin saved the spot-kick. However, the momentum swung back in India’s favour after Bangladesh captain Nazmul Huda Faysal fired over the crossbar.

India held their nerve from that point, converting their remaining spot-kicks, while goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam pulled off a crucial save to deny Salahuddin Sahed.

Earlier in the match, India came flying out of the blocks. Awarded a free-kick from over 30 yards out, Shami spotted the Bangladesh keeper slightly out of position and went for goal in the second minute.

The Bangladeshi goalkeeper got his hands to the ball but Shami’s curling strike had enough power behind it to ripple the net.

India dominated the possession and pushed Bangladesh on the back foot after taking an early lead. In the 16th minute, Omang Dodum sliced through the defence with a solo run and was nearly in for a second. Mahin made a vital save to keep Bangladesh in the contest.

Bangladesh gradually grew into the game and cut off India’s passing channels. By half-time, the visitors had begun to threaten with set-pieces, but India’s backline stood firm.

The equaliser came in the 61st minute. A corner sparked a scramble in the box and Md Joy Ahamed pounced on the loose ball, firing it past Suraj Singh to level the score. It was the first goal India had conceded in the tournament.

From there, both teams pressed for a winner but the game turned cagey and physical. The final third became a battlefield and clear-cut chances were few and far between.

With the whistle blowing for full time, it all came down to the dreaded penalty shootout. Indian captain Shami rose to the occasion a second time to bury the final penalty into the net and send his team and the crowd into delirium.

Defending champions India made the final with a commanding 3-0 victory against the Maldives in the semi-finals.

Earlier in the tournament, the Indian U19 football team topped Group B after defeating Sri Lanka 8-0 and Nepal 4-0.

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