Pakistan reach SAFF final for first time by beating Bangladesh

Bangladesh put up a great fight until the 84th minute. Hamza Choudhury’s side launched one attack after another on Pakistan’s defence. But all dreams ended due to their own mistake in the last moment. Bangladesh’s dream of reaching the final of the SAFF Championship after 21 years on home soil was not fulfilled. The hosts had to exit the semi-final after conceding a goal in the 85th minute. Pakistan have secured a place in the final for the first time in history with a 1-0 win.

At the National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday (November 14) Bangladesh’s defence had to deal with Pakistan’s attacks right from the start of the match. The hosts took the field with two changes in the starting eleven. Shekh Itofusa played in place of Mohammad Ibrahim. And Rahmat Mia got a chance in the starting eleven instead of Saad Uddin who was ruled out due to injury.

The Bangladesh-Pakistan semi-final heated up with attacks and counter-attacks in a fast-paced football. Although both teams created goal-scoring opportunities, neither could find the net. As a result the first half ended in a goalless draw.

Pakistan put Bangladesh under pressure by attacking in the second minute of the match. Bangladesh goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon dived to his left and saved the bullet-speed shot of Ali Uzair from outside the box.

Bangladesh also organised themselves in the seventh minute. Pakistan’s goalkeeper easily collected the weak low shot taken by Kazem Shah from outside the box.

In the 16th minute Pakistan saved at the cost of a corner from the powerful shot of Rakib Hossain from outside the box.

Bangladesh got a great opportunity to score in the 23rd minute. Rakib received the header of Shamit Som from the corner of Farhan Ali Wahid. Although he took a powerful low shot with his left foot, the ball hit the post after touching the goalkeeper’s hand. Later Pakistan’s Junaid Ahmed cleared the danger.

Bangladesh escaped a big danger after the cooling break in the 32nd minute. Tariq Kazi could not mark Abdul Samad Azad properly in the scramble. The shot taken by Samad after getting the ball came back after hitting the post. Zidan Yusuf cleared the rebound.

Bangladesh created another opportunity in the 41st minute. The powerful shot of Shekh Itofusa went just over the crossbar. The hosts could not find the goal despite creating one opportunity after another like this in the first half.

Bangladesh maintained pressure on Pakistan’s defence even after the break. They launched one attack after another. Especially although attacks were created from Itofusa’s side, it became difficult to beat Pakistan’s goalkeeper.

Farhan tried for a goal in the 61st minute. In the next minute Mohammad Ibrahim came on as a substitute for Shekh Itofusa.

In the 76th minute Bishwanath Ghosh came on in place of Rahmat Mia. Before that Pakistan got a free-kick outside the box from Hamza’s foul. Srabon dived to his left and blocked the shot taken by Adil Nabi from it. A little later the shot of Haris Ali went over the crossbar.

In the 82nd minute Srabon dived to his right and saved the powerful shot of Abdul Samad. But Bangladesh conceded a goal just three minutes later. Srabon collected the shot of an opposing player. Then while trying to make a long throw he put the ball at the feet of a Pakistan player. From there Abdul Samad Shehzad entered the box and sent the ball into the net with a spectacular shot through the middle of Zidan and Zayan. Srabon could not reach the ball even after diving.

After conceding the goal Bangladesh became desperate to restore parity. Jamal Bhuyan, Fahamidul and Faisal Ahmed Fahim were brought on in the added time. Before that the play was stopped for some time after a flare was thrown on the field. Although the play started again Bangladesh could not restore parity. On the other hand Pakistan revelled in the joy of reaching the SAFF final for the first time.

Tension also spread among the players of both teams towards the end of the match. Although it was about to turn into a scuffle the situation did not go far. Ultimately Bangladesh had to leave the field with a 1-0 defeat.