The fierce rivalry between Bangladesh and India added another emotional chapter on Sunday as defending champions Bangladesh suffered a 3-0 defeat to hosts India in the final Group B match at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa.
Despite the setback, Bangladesh advanced to the semifinals as Group B runners-up and will now face Group A champions Nepal -- a side they defeated in two previous finals to establish their regional supremacy.
India, eager to avenge successive defeats to Bangladesh in 2022 and 2023, produced an energetic display and were rewarded in the 36th minute when Pyari Xaxa capitalised on a miscued header from defender Kohati Kisku to break the deadlock.
Peter Butler's side improved after the break and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but their hopes suffered a major blow in the 73rd minute when substitute Lynda Kom Setro converted from the penalty spot after Surma Jannat brought down substitute Malavika inside the box. Malavika then completed the scoring in stoppage time with a simple tap-in.
The defeat ended Bangladesh's 10-match unbeaten run in the SAFF Women's Championship and marked a reversal of fortunes after they had beaten India 3-1 and 3-0 in their previous two meetings in the competition.
Butler made two changes to the side that defeated Maldives 4-2, bringing in Surma Jannat and Monika Chakma in place of Afeida Khandoker and Umehla Marma. Bangladesh started brightly and nearly took an early lead when Anika Rania Siddiqui's effort went straight to goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu.
After surviving that scare, India seized control of the contest. Bangladesh were forced onto the back foot as erratic passing and a lack of coordination in midfield disrupted their rhythm.
Stopper Surovi Akter Arfin stood out in defence, while goalkeeper Mile Akter denied the Indian forwards on several occasions to keep the scoreline respectable. However, defensive lapses from Kohati and Surma proved costly as India punished the mistakes to claim a deserved victory.
Bangladesh rarely threatened the Indian goal apart from brief spells at the start of each half, while the hosts could easily have won by a bigger margin had it not been for Mile's interventions.
