Bangladesh booters won a dramatic semi-final against Pakistan in Thimphu Saturday to reach the SAFF Under-17 Championship final.
The game rolled to the tie-breaker where Bangladesh won 8-7 after 90-minute normal time ended all square at 2-2 following substitute Mohammad Manik’s dramatic equalizer five minutes into added time.
The youngsters in red and green will face holders India, who beat Nepal 4-2 in the other semi-final, in the final Monday.
India beat Bangladesh in the opening group fixture following solitary goal in stoppage time and since then, Saiful Bari Titu’s side have gone through dramatic turns.
The semi-final berth appeared uncertain after they drew 1-1 against the Maldives in their second match.
The last group tie between India and the Maldives decided Bangladesh’s fate in the knockout stage.
Going into the break, Pakistan had the upper hand.
They went ahead in the first half before doubling the lead soon after the hour mark.
Bangladesh fought back late in the game to turn the tide.
Within a minute after Bangladesh conceded their second goal, Manik came in replacing Rifat Kazi and made an instant impact.
The No. 9 supersub reduced the margin in the 74th minute as he smashed through a goal-mouth crowd.
Manik’s 94th-minute finish from close range was also a treat to watch.
There was no extra 30 minutes as per the regulation of South Asian Football Federation age-group competitions.
In the penalty shootout, both the teams converted first five attempts successfully.
It was 7-7 before substitute goalkeeper Alif Rahman Imtiaz denied Pakistan’s No. 9 Abdul Ghani with a diving save.
Ashikur Rahman’s final kick made sure Bangladesh progressed to the final in consecutive editions.
Two Bangladesh substitutes stole the show.
The other one being Alif who was the sixth change for Bangladesh and last substitute of the game made in the last minute of stoppage time, in the 97th minute.
