India beat Maldives, reach final

Kathmandu, September 27

The Indian football team hammered Maldives 4-0 to storm into the final of the SAFF U-18 Championship. Narender Gahlot (7th), Manvir Singh (79th) and Ninthoinganba Meetei (81st) found the target for India while Maldives’ Ahnaf Rasheedh (45’+1’) scored an own goal. India now play Bangladesh in the summit clash on Sunday.

Centre-back Narender, who had impressed with the senior team in the Intercontinental Cup, put India ahead when he rose the highest and headed the ball into the net. Maldives had an opportunity to equalise after some pressing by their forwards resulted in Ahmed Samaah gaining possession of the ball inside the Indian penalty box. However, the Indian defence averted the danger. Second-half substitute Manvir made it 3-0. Ninthoinganba completed the 4-0 scoreline with a beautiful volley from outside the Maldives area into the back of the net. — PTI