Goalkeeper Sojit Gurung made an excellent save as Nepal beat India 5-4 in tiebreaker after a 1-1 draw to lift the Saff U-19 Championship for the first major silverware in football in 22 years.

In an intense final battle at the Anfa complex, Nepal took a 31st minute lead through Tej Tamang’s close range goal before a penalty from Shahbaaz in the dying moments of turned the match on its head.

As the match was pushed straight to the tiebreaker, Gurung gave Nepal an upper hand denying Moinuddin in India’s first shot that was enough for Nepal to win the title. Gurung properly judged the direction of the shot with a one hand save to leave Moinuddin dejected.

Hemanta Thapa Magar, Sunil Bal, Bishwas Shrestha, Dona Thapa and Ananta Tamang converted from the spot for Nepal, while Hayden Hapson Fernandes, Sarthak Gouli, Daniel Lalhlimpuia and Shahbaaz were on target for India.

Nepali team skipper Bimal Gharti Magar praised the unity in his team. “We won today because we played as a unit. This is one of our happiest days and hopefully we can continue this run in the future too,” said Gharti Magar after the match.

The first half belonged to Nepal who frequently created chances and threatened the Indian goal. Gharti Magar was close to giving Nepal an early lead when in the eighth minute Indian defender passed to the Nepali forward assuming as his teammate. Gharti Magar hastened for the shot with his powerful low drive from the area missing the post by few inches.

Nepal kept pressing hard and their work was duly paid when Tamang scored from close range in a rebound after Ananta Tamang’s header was blocked away by Indian custodian Sayak Barai. The hosts headed into the second half with a one-goal lead after India rarely trouble the Nepali half.

India’s first real chance came in the 49th minute only for Gurung to come up with a spectacular save. Shahbaaz set unmarked Lalhlimpuia inside the area but his powerful shot was nicely parried by Gurung. Four minute later, Gharti Magar missed a sitter.

In a one-two move, Bishwas Shrestha cut through two defenders feeding Gharti Magar in front of the goal whose shot unluckily found the feet of wrong-footed Barai. Bal was next denied by Barai, punching away a close range volley from the Nepali midfielder.

India were looking equally menacing at Nepal’s post and had an opportunity to bring the equaliser in the 79th minute. Lalramzauva Khiangte was left free to make his shot with the midfielder beating Gurung before defender Tchhiring Gurung cleared the ball to safety.

The Indian equaliser came in the 87th minute but in a bizarre circumstance for Nepal when Dinesh Rajbanshi, playing his first and only match of the tournament, deliberately handled the ball with two Indian players waiting behind him inside the area for a long range pass.

Referee Adam Fazeel had no hesitation pointing towards the spot and Shahbaaz made a cool finish to silence the crowd. Indian coach Syed Shabbir Pasa praised his boys despite the defeat. “It was a great game and I really appreciate the way our boys showed their character playing against the home crowd,” said Pasa.