India sweep past 10-man Nepal to win SAFF U-17 football championship | Football News

NEW DELHI: India, defending champions, produced a clinical performance to maintain their SAFF U-17 Championship title as they crushed a 10-man Nepal 4-0 in the final in Colombo.
Boby Singh, Korou Singh, captain Vanlalpeka Guite and Aman each scored a goal in India’s resounding victory. In the group league, Nepal beat India 3-1.
However, in the final, India seemed keen to take charge of the entire process from the start. They came out of the blocks early in the game, looking to find gaps in the Nepalese defence, and managed to take the lead in the 18th minute through Boby, who headed it into the goal at the far post, after a good game between Ricky Meetei and Guite, while the latter sailed on a cross towards the possible striker.

Guite was in the thick of it again 12 minutes later, getting another assist to his name, as he played a through ball to Korou Singh, who only had to round the keeper and bring it back to the House.
The second goal meant that Nepal started attacking the Indian half with much more urgency, but the Indian midfield managed to thwart their efforts. Frustration surfaced in the 39th minute, when Nepal captain Prashant Laksam elbowed Danny Laishram in the back after the two got tangled in a challenge – an action that was immediately rewarded with a red card by the referee.
With the man advantage, India saw out the remainder of the first half, before resuming play after the side change. Soon, Guite scored his own goal in the 63rd minute, when his cross from the left deflected into the top corner, giving India a 3-0 lead.

Nepal’s second-half substitute Dhan Singh created a couple of chances for his side in the final minutes, but a one-man advantage meant India thwarted the effort.
On the other side, India’s second-half substitute Aman added salt to the injuries in injury time, scoring the fourth goal, after coming in behind the Nepalese defence.
The result was in no doubt in the end as India successfully defended their title.

Indian skipper Guite was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while goalkeeper Sahil scooped the Best Goalkeeper award.
Head coach Bibiano Fernandes praised the team’s efforts.
“I am extremely proud of my boys. There’s been a lot of hard work, and every support team and every player deserves equal credit,” he said.

“AIFF’s efforts at the youth level in providing us with continuous exposure tours with the help of SAI helped the boys mature.”