Magical Mirajul helps Bangladesh to maiden SAFF U-20 title

Mirajul Islam scored a brace and set up another as Bangladesh clinched the title of the SAFF U-20 Championship for the first time with a scintillating 4-1 win against hosts Nepal in the final in Lalitpur today.

Mirajul, the Bangladesh No 10 opened the scoring with a brilliant free-kick in the stoppage time of the first half before doubling the team's lead nine minutes after restart with a point-blank header to confirm the first SAFF trophy at this level after having finished runners-up three times.

Rahul then pulled clear daylight between the two teams with a curling effort from just inside the box in the 71st minute after Mirajul had danced his way into the box with some eye-catching stepovers.

Bangladesh players hold jerseys of Mehedi Hasan Srabon and Aky Marma, the two players who missed out on the final, before the kickoff. Photo: BFF

Two-time champions Nepal, playing on their home turf at the ANFA Complex and in front of a packed crowd, controlled possession throughout the first half and created a few chances but Maruful Haque's charges were far more clinical. And clinical was Mirajul, who finished the tournament as the top-scorer with four goals from four matches.

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And even though the hosts pulled a goal back through Samir Tamang in the 80th minute, Piash Ahmed Nova's goal deep into stoppage time ensured a comprehensive victory for the visitors.

It was also a bit of a revenge for the Boys in Red and Green, who were beaten 2-1 by the hosts during a group-stage match.