Pakistan reached the final of the SAFF Championship for the first time after beating hosts Bangladesh 1-0 in the semi-final at the National Stadium on Saturday. Abdul Samad Arshad scored the winner in the closing stages, about five minutes before regulation time ended. Pakistan will now face arch-rivals and defending champions India in the final on Tuesday.
How the match was decided
Bangladesh had most of the ball, with roughly 62 to 64 per cent possession, and pressed hard for an equaliser in the final minutes. Pakistan stayed compact and disciplined at the back and posed a threat on the counter-attack. Despite having far less of the ball, the visitors recorded more shots and efforts on target.
Samad broke the deadlock with a moment of individual skill. He collected the ball on the right, shifted it between his feet to create space, and drove a powerful left-footed shot past goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon. The Denmark-based forward was one of several overseas-based players who joined the squad for the knockout rounds, because the group-stage fixtures fell outside the FIFA international window.
Frustrated home supporters threw a flare onto the pitch, which briefly stopped play. Pakistan held firm to the end and secured the result.
Pakistan's route to the final
Bangladesh had topped Group A unbeaten, with wins over Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan finished as Group B runners-up. They opened with a 3-2 defeat to India despite a spirited late fightback, then beat the Maldives 3-0 before the semi-final.
The semi-final was Pakistan's fifth appearance at that stage, and the first time they have progressed to the final, after four earlier attempts had ended without a place in the final. India beat Bhutan 2-1 in the other semi-final, which set up the meeting. Nolberto Solano's side will now aim to finish the campaign with Pakistan's first-ever SAFF Championship title.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Group stage: Pakistan lost 3-2 to India in their opening match, then beat the Maldives 3-0 and finished Group B runners-up.
- Saturday: Pakistan beat hosts Bangladesh 1-0 in the semi-final at the National Stadium, with Abdul Samad Arshad's late goal.
- Tuesday: Pakistan are scheduled to play India in the SAFF Championship final.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan football team ne SAFF Championship ke semi-final mein Bangladesh ko 1-0 se haraya aur pehli dafa final mein pohanch gayi. Abdul Samad Arshad ne match ke aakhri hisson mein goal kiya, jis se Pakistan ki jeet tay hui. Final Tuesday ko India ke khilaf hoga, is liye football shaiqeen ke liye yeh ek bara match hoga.
