SAFF U19 football championship: India decimates Nepal to enter semi-finals

India pulled off a convincing 4-0 win against Nepal to top Group B and secure the top place while making it to the last four stage in the SAFF under-19 football championship at Yupia in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday

Hyderabad: India pulled off a convincing 4-0 win against Nepal to top Group B and secure the top place while making it to the last four stage in the SAFF under-19 football championship at Yupia in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday.

Rohen Singh Chaphamayum (28’, 76’) scored two goals, while local boy Omang Dodum (29’) and Danny Meitei (84’) netted one each. India, with this win, finished Group B with a perfect six points from two matches, with a goal difference of 12.

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Nepal finished second with three points from their two matches.

The hosts will face Maldives, Group A runners-up, on Friday, May 16, while Group A winners Bangladesh will play Nepal at 3.30 pm in the semi-finals on the same day.

A cross from the left flank off Malemngamba Singh’s left boot bounced off a couple of heads before landing kindly in front of Rohen, who swiftly proceeded to slide it past Nepal goalkeeper Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar in the 28th minute.

A minute later, Omang doubled the lead when he was played through by Danny, before exhibiting some nifty footwork to side-foot it into the top corner.

With a two-goal difference, India grew in confidence as they began to dominate the proceedings against Nepal.

They began on the front foot after the change of ends, as the combination of Omang, Danny, and Prashan combined to give the Nepal defence a tough time.

They added a third with less than 15 minutes of regulation time left.

Prashan Jajo sent a low cut-back to Danny, who fired it from around the penalty spot. While his shot was saved by Pariyar, Rohen was at hand to volley in the rebound.

Danny, who had been influential throughout the game, finally got on the scoresheet himself when a long-range effort by India captain Singamayum Shami was thwarted by Pariyar. However, the playmaker, who had scored a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in the previous game, smartly poked the rebound in.

In another match, the Maldives and Bhutan were locked in a two-all draw.

The results: India 4 (Rohen Singh 28’, 76’, Omang Dodum 29’, Danny Meitei 84’) beat Nepal 0.

Maldives 2 (Aidh Mohamed Jaweez 75′, Ashham Ibrahim Mohamed 90 3′) drew with Bhutan 2 (Lham Tenzin 44′, Chogyel S Sherab 90 6)