Pakistan win SAFF U-16 Football Championship

India’s under-16 football team stumbled at the final match as they went down to Pakistan 1-2 in the title clash of the SAFF Championship, private TV channels and Indian media reported on Wednesday.
In an enthralling encounter at the Dashrath Stadium, Mohammed Zaseen put Pakistan ahead when he found the back of the net in the 25th minute. Not ready to throw in the towel, India drew level through Daniel Lalhlimpuia’s strike at the stroke of half-time, Press Trust of India news agency reported.
Pakistan took the lead again when Mohammed Mansoor scored early in the second half, a strike which eventually decided the fate of the match. Earlier, India’s defence was slow to react as a Zaseen cross from the left flank was too good for custodian Supratim Bhattacharya as it dipped into the far post.
Lalhlimpuia restored parity scoring off a goal-mouth melee as both teams went to the breather with the score line reading 1-1. But India were in for a shock as Mansoor sealed the deal for Pakistan off a corner four minutes from the change of ends.
From there on, India desperately looked for an equaliser, but Pakistan’s defence stood tall. The Pakistani side remained undefeated in the tournament and was victorious against India in the league match and Bangladesh in the semi-final.