Male (Maldives), March 28 (NationPress) The Indian U20 men's squad secured the top position in Group B after a 1-1 stalemate with Bangladesh in their second encounter of the SAFF U20 Championship 2026, held at the National Stadium.

Vishal Yadav gave the Blue Colts an early lead in the 17th minute; however, Bangladesh equalized just before halftime thanks to Md Abdul Riyad Fahim's goal during stoppage time, ensuring that both teams shared the spoils.

This result solidified India's position at the top of their group, having already clinched a spot in the semi-finals following a convincing 3-0 victory over Pakistan. Bangladesh, despite the draw, finished as runners-up due to a lower goal difference.

Mahesh Gawali's team is now set to face Bhutan in the semi-finals on Wednesday, while Bangladesh will square off against Nepal in the other semi-final match at 16:15 IST.

The match opened with a cautious approach from both teams, each aiming to avoid early slip-ups. Bangladesh sought to exploit the width of the pitch to test India's defense, but the Indian backline held firm, minimizing clear chances. As the game progressed, India began to assert themselves, gradually building play from the back and aiming to capitalize on set-pieces.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Omang Dodum executed a perfectly weighted corner from the right side. Vishal Yadav found a gap between Bangladesh defenders Sheikh Sangram and Ashikur Rahman, directing a powerful header past the goalkeeper. This marked Yadav's second goal of the tournament and established India's dominance in the match.

India nearly doubled their lead shortly before halftime when Dodum delivered a dangerous free-kick, but Jodric Abranches’ header went wide, allowing Bangladesh to remain in contention.

Tempers flared just after when Nazmul Huda Faysal fouled Yaipharemba Chingakham, resulting in heated exchanges from both benches. The referee issued red cards to Bangladesh's head coach Mark Cox and India's goalkeeping coach Sandip Nandy.

Bangladesh capitalized on a lapse in concentration from India's defense during the extended stoppage time at the end of the first half. With eight minutes of additional time announced, Md Abdul Riyad Fahim scored from Ronan Sullivan’s corner in the 10th minute of injury time, leveling the score.

Despite the late equalizer, India remained composed after the break, continuing to dominate large portions of the match. The Blue Colts looked more determined, creating chances from set-pieces.

In the 70th minute, Dodum took a free-kick from the edge of the area, but it was blocked by Md Kamal Merdha. India pushed for a late winner, with Dodum receiving another opportunity in the 86th minute when Rishi Singh Ningthoukhongjam provided a through ball, but a heavy first touch caused Dodum to miss the chance.

The match concluded with a score of 1-1, confirming India's top finish in Group B as they advance to the semi-finals.