In a final full of drama and excitement, the national team of India U-17 kept their courage to beat Bangladesh 4-1 on penalties and their seventh SAFF U-17 championship 2025 title in the Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo on Saturday 27 September 2025.
In a match where India led 2-1 during the break with goals from Dallamuon (4 ‘) and Azlaan Shah KH (38’), Bangladesh back with a final gasp equalizer from Ihsan Habib Riduan to deliver things on 2-2 and forcing a shootout. But it was the Blue Colts that kept their calmness when it mattered the most.
The penalty shootout saw India maturity that was shown beyond their age. Dallalmuon went, Korou Meitei Konthoujam and Indra Rana Magar converted with Aplomb before Shubham Poonia moved the decisive fourth kick home. Bangladesh, on the other hand, crumbled under pressure. MD Ikramul Islam hit the bar, MD Azam Khan saw his efforts saved by Manashjyoti Baruah, and although MD Manik turned their third attempt, it was too late. India broke out in the celebration and returned their throne in a emphatic way.
India started the game with strength and aggression, fully aware that Bangladesh had not admitted any goal during the tournament. The breakthrough came in the 4th minute, when Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam hit a cross from the left. After a Bengalian defender tried to erase, the ball recovered friendly and made no mistake with the second attempt to give India the perfect start.
While India continued to dominate the possession, their inability kept to convert more opportunities into Bangladesh Doelen in the hunt. Slowly but surely, Bangladesh grew out in the game and found their equalizer in the 24th minute. After an attempt on a long -distance by Nazmul Huda Faysal forced a diving saving from Baruah, Bangladesh Captain of the resulting corner. Faysal drove the ball in and it eventually fell to Manik, who nodded home from close range.
The goal injected life into the game of Bangladesh. They came painfully close in the 29th minute when the header of MD Opu Rahman hit the woodwork. The defense of India was suddenly tested, but Baruah remained compiled and took off several saves to deny the Bengalian forwards.
India, however, showed their determination by regaining management in the 38th minute, thanks to a defensive decay from Bangladesh. Again, Gunleiba destroyed the left side and supplied a dangerous cross. The keeper of Bangladesh did not succeed in gathering neatly, allowing Azlaan Shah KH to jump the rebound. MD Ikramul Islam had the opportunity to block the shot on the goal line, but the powerful left-wing umbrella Van Azlaan slept by to set India 2-1 for the rest.
In the second half, India saw a more pragmatic approach, content by protecting their slender lead. Bangladesh pushed forward, looking for an equalizer, and Islam almost made up for the 49th minute with a lightning from a corner, but Baruah was alert again.
A fierce attack by Faysal in the 50th minute hit the bar, which underlined how close the game was. India also had opportunities to finish the game. In the 88th minute, the header of Lesvin Rebelo rattled the bar from a corner, while Ganged also forced a good distance rescue.
Just when India, however, seemed destined to win in the control time, Bangladesh delivered an angel in the tail. In the seventh minute of added time, MD Sabbir Islam launched a desperate long pitch in the Indian box. In the midst of chaos and indecision, Ihsan Habib Riduan turned on a loose ball to break him in and send the final in a penalty shootout.
Yet the night eventually belonged to the brave young side of Bibiano Fernandes, who kept their nerve among the spotlights to overcome. It was the fifth Saff title for Fernandes, and the second in less than five months, which contributed to the Saff U19 crown won in Arunachal Pradesh in May.
India is 17: Mahanan, Singra Brii Kabir, Singam Rab, Studests-year-old. Parf months of Nazar, Milni Asains (Ceprita ‘
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