Bangladesh wrote a new chapter in South Asian football history on Wednesday as they defeated hosts Nepal 4-1 in the final at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur to win their maiden SAFF U-20 Championship title.

Mirajul Islam scored a brace, Rabby Hossen Rahul added the third and Piash Ahmmed Nova rounded off a ruthless victory with their fourth goal as the Bengal Tigers finally got hands on the trophy nine years after the inception of the championship. Nepal and India had shared the titles of the previous five editions, with India winning the last three tournaments in a row. Bangladesh were the finalists in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Backed by home support, and with defending champions India already out of the competition, Nepal started as strong favourites—having also beaten the Tigers 2-1 in the group stage—and were looking to reclaim the throne.

But Urjan Shrestha’s side were so wasteful and took too lightly a Bangladeshi team that had undone India in the semi-finals.

Nirajan Dhami was the biggest threat to Bangladesh in the first half, constantly bullying the opponents’ post with his long rangers.

Md Asif, the shootout hero of India semi-final, started in the place of captain and first choice goalkeeper Mehdi Hasan Srabon, who was out injured, and passed another big test denying Dhami his third goal of the tournament with a finger-tip save thirteen minutes into the game.

Nepal’s biggest chance of the match came in the 21st minute when Dhami outmuscled two defenders, bulldozed into the area and cut back for unmarked Abinash Syangtan but the midfielder failed to capitalise on the open chance from near the penalty spot to everyone’s disbelief.

Bangladesh then punished Nepal for that miss in the injury time of the first half with a clinical freekick from Mirajul, whose shot from just outside the edge of the box hit the upright before finding the net.

The lead injected so much energy into Bangladesh that they were all over Nepal after the restart.

Although Nepal pressed for equaliser immediately and Dhami again came close to goal, it was Bangladesh who proved to be a better team with their second goal in the 55th minute thanks to Mirajul, who outsmarted Nepali defenders to head in from goal line after Nepal goalkeeper Jiyarat Shekh misjudged a tight-angled effort from Asadul Molla. Mirajul scored four goals to top the goal-scoring tally in the championship.

The two-goal deficit soaked all the life out of Nepal and Bangladesh took full advantage of it, adding another in the 71st minute. Mirajul was the provider as the forward outfoxed three Nepali defenders to set up Rahul to poke home, ending any hopes of Nepali comeback.

Samir Tamang gave some hopes of a fight back, reducing the deficit in the 80th minute with a free header after Bangladesh goalie Asif unsuccessfully attempted to punch away Ram Thapa’s cross.

Nepal still had time to claw their way back but never rediscovered their composure.

Nova then put the final nail in the coffin, sending the ball through the legs of Shekh in the sixth minute of stoppage time after he was set up by Rahul.

Mirajul was also declared the most valuable player of the tournament, while Asif won the best goalkeeper award.

Nepal received the fair play award.

Bangladesh U-20 team coach AKM Maruful Haque, who also coached senior men’s national football team in 2015 during the 2015 SAFF Suzuki Cup, dedicated the trophy to “the heroes and their souls who sacrificed their lives for the sake of new Bangladesh this and last month”.

“I hope this championship will inspire the nation to reform Bangladesh,” he added.

On the final and the championship, Haque said: “I had told my players to start slow and play simple football because we only had a one-day rest… and because we were playing against a very talented side. We were successful at the end.”