After the match ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the fate of the game was decided in a dramatic tiebreaker, where hosts India came out on top.
“With just 1 minute and 7 seconds on the clock, Bangladesh hadn’t quite settled in when the ball was already in their net!” Despite the early blow, Murshed and Foysal led a spirited comeback that saw Bangladesh grow into the game and eventually level the score in the second half. The contest moved to penalties, where Bangladesh sparked hope but couldn’t hold on.
At the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal, India edged past Bangladesh 4-3 in a nail-biting tiebreaker on Sunday. The regular 90 minutes ended at 1-1.
Mithu Chowdhury, Murshed Ali, and Joy Ahmed scored for Bangladesh, while Nazmul Huda Foysal and Salah Uddin Shahed missed their shots.
For India, Mohammad Arbaaz, Rishi Singh, Jadrick Abranches, and captain Sami converted their penalties. Rohen Singh missed.
Rohen’s missed second shot was dramatically saved by Ismail, giving Bangladesh the lead. But momentum shifted quickly as Bangladesh missed their next two chances. Foysal sent his fourth shot flying over the crossbar, and Salah Uddin’s weak fifth shot was easily saved by the Indian keeper. With that, Bangladesh’s dream of winning their first U-19 title came to an end.
The packed crowd erupted early as India stunned Bangladesh with an unbelievable second-minute goal. From about 35 yards near the right touchline, Singameiyun Sami floated a free-kick over leaping keeper Ismail Hossain Mahin and into the net. Mahin had slightly stepped off his line before the kick, making him vulnerable.
India kept pushing after taking the lead. In the 17th minute, Rohen Singh’s header was blocked by Ismail, but he couldn’t hold it. Rohen’s follow-up shot went just wide.
Bangladesh slowly found their rhythm and started pressing forward. In the 29th minute, Foysal’s shot missed the target. Soon after, Mithu Chowdhury’s header off Foysal’s corner was cleared for another corner by a defender.
In the 39th minute, Sumon Soren, well-positioned at the far post, couldn’t control a fast cross from the right. Moments later, Mithu hit the post with a powerful header off Murshed’s cross, but the referee had already blown the whistle for a foul, frustrating the Bangladeshi players.
In the 43rd minute, Foysal delivered a low cross into the box, but Rifat was too far to connect. Bangladesh went into halftime trailing.
In the second half, Bangladesh looked desperate to equalize but lacked finishing in the final third. In the 56th minute, Foysal ran into the box from the right but ended up handing the ball to the keeper with a weak shot.
Four minutes later, Bangladesh had another chance. Murshed’s long-range shot was barely tipped over for a corner. That very corner turned into the breakthrough.
Inside a crowded box, the ball bounced around before substitute Joy Ahmed found space and took a shot that deflected off an Indian player into the net. It was the first goal India conceded in the tournament.
In the 81st minute, Murshed tried again with a low shot, but it lacked pace and was easily saved. As stoppage time began, India threw everything forward. Ismail denied Rohen’s shot in the first added minute, and a defender quickly cleared the danger. Moments later, Ismail punched away a long-range strike.
In the dying seconds, Ismail rushed off his line to clear a dangerous Indian attack, but before he could return to his goal, an Indian player tried to score. Mithu came to the rescue, clearing the shot off the goal line. That heroic act sent the match to penalties.
Unfortunately, misses by Foysal and Salah Uddin sealed a heartbreaking defeat for Bangladesh.
