Unstoppable Bangladesh Crush Nepal to Reach SAFF U-19 Final as Table Toppers
The girls in red and green will now face second-placed India in the highly anticipated final this Saturday (February 7).
Despite making several changes to the starting lineup to test his bench strength, Coach Butler saw his team take an early lead in the 3rd minute through a clinical header by Pratima Munda. Substitute forward Alpi then doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time with a stunning free-kick from just outside the box. Bangladesh maintained their aggression in the second half, with Alpi scoring again in the 61st minute. She eventually completed her hat-trick in the 82nd minute, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error by Nepal’s Jharna Dumrakoti. The match ended on a sour note for the hosts as Maya Maskey received a red card for a desperate foul on Alpi in stoppage time.
Bangladesh boasts an incredible record in this age-group competition, having won the title four times out of six editions across different age categories. After being declared joint-champions with India in 2024, the defending champions are now eyeing a fifth title to reclaim sole supremacy in South Asian football. Having scored 9 goals without conceding any in the league stage, the Bangladesh U-19 team enters the final with high morale and peak form.
