- Pakistan beat hosts Bangladesh 1-0 in the second semi-final in Dhaka on Saturday to reach the SAFF Championship final
- Abdul Samad Arshad scored the winner in the 86th minute after an assist from substitute Hayan Khattak
- It is Pakistan's first SAFF Championship final, after four earlier semi-final exits
- Pakistan meet defending champions India in the final on 17 November
Pakistan have reached the SAFF Championship final for the first time, edging hosts Bangladesh 1-0 in a tense second semi-final at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday. Abdul Samad Arshad's goal late in the second half settled a match that had stayed goalless for most of its length.
In this article
The result ends a long wait for the national side. Pakistan had reached the semi-finals four times before, but had never made it to the title-deciding match. A SAFF Championship final appearance is a milestone that had eluded the team until now.
Pakistan reach the SAFF Championship final after a tight match
Pakistan started brightly and created two chances in the opening minutes. Bangladesh goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon made an important early save, and the hosts then gradually took control of possession. Bangladesh had 65% of the ball after 40 minutes, but could not turn it into a goal.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half. Rakib Hossain's powerful shot was saved by Pakistan's goalkeeper before it struck the post. At the other end, Samad found space inside the penalty area, but his effort also came back off the post.
The second half stayed closely fought. Pakistan's defence held firm, and Srabon made another key save to deny a free kick from just outside the box.
| Stage | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Group B | India | Lost 2-3 |
| Group B | Maldives | Won 3-0 |
| Semi-final | Bangladesh | Won 1-0 |
Samad strikes in the 86th minute to book the SAFF Championship final
The breakthrough came when Srabon's attempted throw reached Hayan Khattak, who had come on as a substitute for Ali Uzair in the 74th minute. Khattak set up Samad, who finished with a calculated strike past the Bangladesh defence.
Bangladesh pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing minutes and made several substitutions during injury time. Pakistan's defence stood firm and secured the historic win that sent them into the SAFF Championship final.
Timeline
- Opening minutesPakistan create two early chances; Bangladesh goalkeeper Srabon makes a key save
- Around 30 minutesAfter the cooling break, Samad's effort strikes the post
- 74th minuteHayan Khattak replaces Ali Uzair
- 86th minuteSamad scores from Khattak's assist to make it 1-0
- Injury timeBangladesh make multiple substitutions but Pakistan hold on
How Pakistan reached the SAFF Championship final
Pakistan, coached by Nolberto Solano, began the tournament with a 3-2 defeat against India. They bounced back with a 3-0 win over the Maldives, in which teenage striker Najeeb Ullah Khan scored twice.
That left them second in Group B with three points, and their place in the last four depended on India's final group match. India beat the Maldives 1-0, which confirmed Pakistan's qualification.
The team also received a boost before the semi-final. Five overseas-based players, Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Ali Akbar Khan, Adil Nabi and Abdul Samad Shahzad, joined the squad after missing the group stage because those fixtures fell outside the FIFA international window.
Bangladesh miss out on the SAFF Championship final
The defeat ended Bangladesh's bid to reach their first SAFF Championship final since 2005. They had topped Group A unbeaten, beating Bhutan 1-0 and Sri Lanka 4-0, and were chasing a second regional title after winning in 2003.
Explained: why the SAFF Championship final matters for Pakistan
Pakistan had been to the semi-finals of the SAFF Championship four times before this tournament, but each of those runs ended without a place in the title-deciding match. Saturday's 1-0 win over Bangladesh in Dhaka changed that, and the SAFF Championship final now features Pakistan for the first time.
The route was not straightforward. Pakistan opened with a 3-2 defeat against India, then beat the Maldives 3-0. Those results left them second in Group B with three points, and they needed India's final group match to go their way. India beat the Maldives 1-0, which confirmed Pakistan's place in the last four.
The semi-final itself was decided by a single goal. Bangladesh had 65% of the ball after 40 minutes, and both sides hit the woodwork in the first half. Pakistan's defence held firm after the break, and Samad's strike in the 86th minute, set up by substitute Khattak, was the only goal of the match.
The opponents in the final are defending champions India, who beat Bhutan 2-1 in the first semi-final. The match is a rematch of the group-stage game that India won 3-2.
Pakistan will face defending champions India in the SAFF Championship final at the same venue in Dhaka on Tuesday, 17 November. India reached the final by beating Bhutan 2-1 in the first semi-final, and the match will be a rematch of the group-stage game that India won 3-2.
Questions and answers
Who scored Pakistan's winning goal against Bangladesh?
Abdul Samad Arshad scored in the 86th minute, following an assist from substitute Hayan Khattak.
Is this Pakistan's first SAFF Championship final?
Yes. Pakistan had reached the semi-finals four times before but had never advanced to the final. This is their first SAFF Championship final.
When and against whom is the SAFF Championship final?
Pakistan play defending champions India on Tuesday, 17 November at the same venue in Dhaka.
Who came on as a substitute before the winning goal?
Hayan Khattak replaced Ali Uzair in the 74th minute and then set up Samad's goal in the 86th minute.
How did Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals?
Pakistan finished second in Group B with three points after losing 3-2 to India and beating the Maldives 3-0. India's 1-0 win over the Maldives in the last group match confirmed their qualification.
Who is Pakistan's coach?
Pakistan are coached by Nolberto Solano.
How did India reach the final?
India beat Bhutan 2-1 in the first semi-final.
