India under-23 beat Maldives to lift fifth SAFF Cup title

DHAKA - Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya made two scintillating saves as India under-23 team defeated defending champions Maldives 3-1 via the penalty shoot-out to lift their fifth South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup title here Sunday.

The young boys, in front of a packed Bangabandhu Stadium, took sweet revenge of the senior team’s 2008 loss in Colombo.

It was also the second time in the year, a goalkeeper starred for India in a final. If it was Subrata Paul who shone in the Nehru Cup triumph earlier in the year, Sunday it was Churchill Brothers’ goalkeeper Arindam’s chance to announce his arrival in the international stage.

Arindam saved shots from Ahmed Toriq and Nasser Mukhtar while star striker Ali Ashfaq shot wide to surrender the title. Fazeel Ibrahim could get the only goal for the Maldives in the shoot-out.

For India, Jibon Singh, Denil Franco and Subodh Kumar were on target while Nirmal Chettri shot wide.

It was a creditable performance by the under-23 team against the big boys in the sub-continent.