Biratnagar, March 22

India beat Nepal 3-1 in the final of the SAFF Women’s Championship to win the title for the fifth straight edition here at the Sahid Rangashala today.

This is the sixth time Nepal faced defeat at the hands of India in final — four times in the SAFF Women’s Championship and twice in the South Asian Games. With the victory, India extended the head-to-head record to 8-1 in 11 matches with two draws.

On Friday, Dalima Chhibber, Grace Dangmei and substitute Anju Tamang scored one goal each for India, while Sabitra Bhandari replied for Nepal, who failed to match India’s performance on the field.

Chibber opened the scoring in the in the 26th minute when she converted a free kick into a sensational goal into the top corner of the post from 35 yards out. Nepal levelled the scores in the 33rd minute through Sabitra Bhandari’s header goal following a long pass from Punam Jargha Magar on a back pass from Renuka Nagarkote.

Nepal’s Sabitra Bhandari and India’s Indumathi Kathiresan (right) hold the highest score’s trophy, after the fifth SAFF Women’s Championship, in Biratnagar on Friday, March 22, 2019. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry/THT

Nepali players acknowledge the home crowd, after the fifth SAFF Women’s Championship, in Biratnagar on Friday, March 22, 2019. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry/THT

Nepal national women’s team striker Sabitra Bhandari moved to second position in all-time highest scorer’s list. Bhandari, who scored one goal each in all four matches played by Nepal in the SAFF Women’s Championship, netted her 26th international goal in the 27th match.

She had equalled Jamuna Gurung’s mark of 25 goals in the semi-final match against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Anu Lama — who was excluded from the final squad of the SAFF Women’s Championship — leads the list with 35 goals in 24 matches.