India and Nepal secured the top two spots in the 2019 U-15 SAFF Football Championship at the Kalyani Stadium here on Thursday.
India beat defending champions Bangladesh 4-0, while Nepal trounced Bhutan 6-0.
Bangladesh, who had lost 1-4 to Nepal earlier in the tournament, needed to beat India by a two-goal margin, in order to clinch the second spot. However, the hosts came through in the end, with an emphatic result.
The match got off to a rather nervy start on a rain-drenched day.
India head coach Bibiano Fernandes made as many as eight changes to his starting XI from their last game against Sri Lanka. Captain and centre-back Anish Mazumder, midfielder Satvik Sharma, and striker Himanshu Jangra were the only ones to keep their position in the starting XI.
Himanshu Jangra scored a hat-trick, finding the back of the net in the 29th, 74th and 79th minute, while Renedy Meetei struck once in the 90th minute.
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India have taken the top spot in the group table.
Both Nepal and India are now set to face each other in the final on Saturday.