DHAKA, 7 Feb: India were staring at an early elimination from the SAFF U-20 Women’s Champion-ship after suffering a 1-3 defeat against Nepal at the Mostafa Kamal Stadium here on Tuesday.
Apurna Narzary handed India lead with her 21st-minute stroke but Nepal bounced back with a goal each from Anjali Chand (48th), Preeti Rai (69th, penalty) and Amisha Karki (89th) and secured their final berth.
India now have four points from three games after the group stage, while Nepal have six. Hosts Bangladesh just (four points) need to draw against Bhutan later in the day to seal their spot in the final.
”It’s quite sad that we started well, but we went slower and slower. Nepal got a penalty, which was of course not good for us, and then the girls started slowing down,” India head coach Maymol Rocky said. (PTI)