SA Games champions India maintained their dominance of South Asia’s women’s football edging past Nepal 1-0 in the final to win the first ever SAFF Women’s Football Championship on Thursday.
It was an action-packed match, full of attacks and counter-attacks at a full house Cox’s Bazar stadium. The spectators cheered all along despite the absence of the hosts to make the final a lively one.
Striker Shashmita scored the all-important goal in the 65th minute, taking tally to 14 to finish as the top-scorer of the tournament.
India, who scored a total of 39 goals in the tournament before the final, went into attack in the very first minute after the match started, but forward Bala Devi was pulled down by a Nepal defender just outside the penalty zone. Bembem Devi took a fruitless free-kick which ricocheted off the Nepal defensive wall.
Nepal got a good scoring opportunity in the 12th minute after Ranjana Devi provided a cross from the right flank. The Himalayan nation’s prolific striker Anu Lama jumped her highest to head but failed to connect and the ball went past the side-line causing no harm.
Indian midfielder Kamala Devi attempted a powerful long ranger in the 21st minute but Nepal goalkeeper Chanda Dahal, who was playing for the first time in the competition because of regular goalie Pramila’s injury, blocked it confidently.
Both the teams had to go to take a breather without any advantage though the tournament’s highest goal-scorer Shashmita rattled the crosspiece just before halftime.
The match remained equally competitive in the second half as well with both the team trying to take control of the midfield since none could break down each other’s defence line.
India won a free-kick in the 65th-minute when Shashmita was fouled by a Nepal defender near the right-hand corner and far outside the penalty area. Indian skipper Tababi chose Shashmita to take the free-kick which proved to be the best decision as the striker broke the deadlock beating Chanda with a spectacular curling left-footer.
The lead recharged the Indian squad and they started mounting pressure on their challengers with frequent attacks. Tababi found opposition keeper Chanda in a one-on-one situation four minutes later but a sluggish Tababi shot wide of the target.
Bala Devi got Chanda alone again in the penalty zone in the 81st minute after receiving a Shashmita back-volley. Chanda, who was impressive throughout the match, denied Bala by diving into her feet which injured her.
The match could go into extra time if Anu Lama could tap in a Jamuna Gurang cross on 89 minutes. Jamuna penetrated the Indian penalty area through the left and released the ball parallel to the goal-line. Anu Lama rushed but she was not quick enough to reach the ball.
Fourth official allocated three minutes stoppage time but Indian coach Mohammed Shahid Jabbar made two changes in that time to the frustration of the Himalayan side. India started celebrating when Japanese referee Satorami blew the final whistle.
Shahid was not satisfied with the winning margin. ‘We could have scored more but all the praise goes to Nepal goalie Chanda. She really has done a good job,’ said Shahid.
Nepalese coach Dhruba Bahadur also praised her girls. ‘My girls played well but luck was not with us. We could have extended the match had we not conceded the nasty one,’ he remarked.
