India and Nepal will combat for the final spot in the ongoing SAFF Under-19 Women’s Football Championship when the group stage will be concluded today with Bangladesh will take on Bhutan at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Kamalapur.
Bangladesh Under-19 national football team will play the day’s second match at 7pm followed by the day’s first match between India and Nepal will take place at 3pm.
However, the hosts Bangladesh Women have already sealed their final birth after winning their successive wins when India and Nepal will combat to move into the final.
India will need a draw when Nepal will have no option but to win the match to qualify in the final.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Under-19, the defending champions of the tournament advanced to the final as the superior sides than their rivals India and Nepal with demonstrating quality football against both the opponents.
After qualifying in the final, the last match (today’s) for Bangladesh turned into a just formality when the result of the match will have no significant but only to maintain their supremacy against the opponents.
Bangladesh, on their way to book the final spot, defeated Nepal by 3-1 and India by 1-0.
So Bangladesh head coach Saiful Bari Titu can bring changes in his today’s first XI to rest some of his vital performers or to trial someone to choice for the final.
Titu, while talking to the Bangladesh Post on Monday, said, “I am thinking to rest some players today, but have not decided yet how many changes I will make. It will depend on the players’ physical condition.”
“Actually, considering the physical and as well as mental condition of the players’ who have are on the side-bench and been waiting to play. It will be keenly observed their body language, how much they are ready to play,” Titu added.
“But definitely there would be some changes, but it’s too early to say and difficult to finalise before the match day,” Titu replied to a query.
On the other hand, the other title contenders India and Nepal will confront to ensure their final spot when both sides won their respective first match against Bhutan.
But the Indians are in advantageous position in goal average when they scored 10 goals against Bhutan and conceded just one goal against Bangladesh.
But, Nepal scored two goals, one each against Bangladesh and Bhutan and conceded three, as they scored total two goals and conceded three and eight goals behind to India in goal aggregate.
According to the equations, now India women need only a draw in the toady’s match and Nepal are in must win situation to move into the final.