Football: India into semi-final of SAFF U17 Championship 2025 with perfect record after victory over Pakistan
Rahan Ahmed fires India into last four of SAFF U17 Championship
India romped into the semi-final of the SAFF U17 Championship 2025 on Monday afternoon when they edged arch-rivals Pakistan to a 3-2 victory at the Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo.
The Blue Colts were installed as the favourites in the match by all the best online betting sites in India, and they fully lived up to expectations, with Rahan Ahmed finding what turned out to be the winning goal in the 74th minute.
Both teams began the match cautiously without creating any clear-cut chances until just after the half-hour mark when Dallalmuon Gangte gave India the lead, but they were only able to hang on to their advantage for 10 minutes before Muhammad Abdullah levelled proceedings.
The Blue Colts regained the lead in the 64th minute through Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam, but once again the Green Boys struck back swiftly, with Hamza Yasir netting his team’s second goal just seven minutes after going behind.
After a few more half-chances, India finally found the knockout blow with 16 minutes to play, as Ahmed struck the back of the net to send the Blue Colts and their fans into raptures. It was also his second goal in as many games in this competition.
With that victory, India clinched top spot in Group B with a perfect record of three wins in three matches, while Pakistan finished with six points in their three games, which was enough to earn them a spot in the knockouts as well.
SAFF U17 Championship knockout stage fixtures confirmed
With the group stage of the SAFF U17 Championship now wrapped up, only four teams remain in the running for the title, including India and Pakistan, as well as Bangladesh and Nepal, which finished first and second, respectively, in Group A.
The Green Boys are scheduled to take on the Bengal Tigers on Thursday, September 25, at 13:00 (GMT), and the Blue Colts will face off against the Junior Gorkhalis later the same day, with all the action available via our football livescores tool.
As it stands, Muhammad Abdullah is the leading goal scorer in this year’s SAFF U17 Championship with six goals, followed by a three-way tie for second between his teammate Mansoor Ali, India’s Dallalmuon Gangte and MD Rifat Kazi of Bangladesh on three goals apiece.
