India sets up SAFF U-15 Championship final with Nepal

Himanshu Jagra's hat-trick helped India seal a berth in the SAFF under-15 championship final, where it will face Nepal.

Defeating defending champion Bangladesh, India will face Nepal in the final.

Host nation India prevailed over defending champion Bangladesh 4-0 in the SAFF under-15 Championship on Thursday at the Kalyani Stadium to set up the finale with Nepal.

India topped the league standings with 12 points, maintaining a 100 per cent win record. Nepal, which finished second in the league standings, pocketed nine points as it beat Bhutan 6-0. For Bangladesh to progress, it required a two-goal win margin but the team failed to net any goals.

With rains making underfoot conditions heavy, India made the most of the situation and found the lead in the 29th minute when Himanshu Jangra headed in a free-kick by Isac Zomuanpuia into the goal.

The second goal followed in similar fashion as Jangra once again found the net off Isac's delivery from a set-piece, in the 74th minute.

The duo excelled for India as they combined well for a third goal just five minutes later. Jangra completed his hat-trick of goals as Isac assisted again in the 79th minute.

Renedy Meetei found the mark in the final minute of the regulation time to make it 4-0 and seal the win for India.

The final will be played on August 31 in the Kalyani Stadium at 3 pm IST.  

The results: India 4 (Himanshu Jangra 29, 74, 79, Renedy Meetei 90) bt Bangladesh 0 Nepal 6 (Pradip Lamsal 7, 48, Niranjan Khattri 11, 85, Ashim Rai 75, Sugam Jimee 90+4) bt Bhutan 0.