Three-time runners-up Bangladesh will be looking to clinch their maiden SAFF Under-20 Championship title when they take on hosts Nepal in the final of the six-nation tournament at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur today.
The match is scheduled to begin at 2:45pm Bangladesh Standard Time.
This will be the second time that the two sides will collide in this edition of the competition as in the group stage Bangladesh lost 2-1 to Nepal.
Bangladesh coach Maruful Haque expects an even more attacking Nepal in the final, but believes they can turn the tide this time.
鈥楾hey will put more pressure on us in the final than we faced them in the group stage. Losing the first game does not mean that we will not be able to beat them in the final. It is possible if we can give 100 per cent effort as well as bring some changes in tactics and game plan,鈥� said Maruful in the pre-final press conference.
Bangladesh reached the final with a 4-3 win on penalties in the semi-final over defending champions India on Monday, when substitute goalkeeper Mohammad Asif played a key role by saving two India kicks.
Bangladesh鈥檚 regular goalkeeper Mehdi Hasan Srabon and defender Kamacai Marma Aky will both miss the final after Srabon suffered an injury and Kamacai received a last-gasp red card in the semi-final against India.聽聽
On the other hand, Nepal must be aiming to win the trophy for the third time after winning it in the 2015 and 2017 editions.
Nepal reached the final unbeaten after their semi-final win over Bhutan, also on tie-breaker where their keeper Ziarath Shekh saved two spot kicks as well.
Nepal beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in their other group stage game, while Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by 2-0 goals.
Nepal coach Urjan Shrestha also predicted a hard final against a strong Bangladesh team that defeated India in the semi-finals.
鈥榃e see Bangladesh as a tough team. They played really well in their win over India. We are expecting a competitive final, and we will do our best to win it,鈥� he said.聽
