Bangladesh tasted a humiliating exit from the Saff Championship as they stumbled to a 2-1 defeat to Pakistan in their last Group A match at the Armed Forces Ground, Kathmandu yesterday.
It was again the lack of concentration as well as confidence as Bangladesh conceded a stoppage time goal in two consecutive matches. Bangladesh conceded a goal in the second minute of the three minutes of stoppage time. The defence line failed to stop Pakistani midfielder Zia-us-Salam whose low cross was flicked by forward Kaleemullah from a close range.
Bangladesh started in a lively note with the possession and passing looking controlled, but the lack of neat finishing again spoiled the effort. Zahid Hasan Emily was in a good position to slot a Zahid Hossain square pass inside the Pakistan net in the very first minute, but Emily’s push lacked the venomous touch to be a goal as it went straight to Pakistani goalie Saqib Hanif.
Bangladesh dominated the midfield. but gradually lost the control when Pakistan attacking line started their counterattacks. In the 24th minute Bangladesh goalie Mamun Khan dived to his left to stop a Hasan Bashir header on a cross of Adnan Faruk Ahmed.
However, it was Bangladesh who took the lead in the 30th minute with the tricky header of Zahid Hasan Emily. Defender Raihan Hasan’s long throw found Emily in the near post whose back header deceived Saqib and landed in the far post.
The joy lasted 11 minutes as Pakistan skipper Samar Ishaq, totally unmarked, ran in from deep and dived forward to head a Adnan Faruk Ahmed corner in the far post of Mamun Khan.
Emily again came close to a strike when he flicked Sohel Rana’s low free-kick, but the ball hit the outside net in the 39th minute. Nine minutes after the break Emily’s fierce right footer on a corner of Rana was brilliantly saved by Pakistani goalie Saqib Hanif.
Bangladesh’s golden chance to take the lead was wasted once again in the 70th minute as substitute forward Wahed missed the flight of Mobarak’s free-kick despite being in a comfortable position. On the other end, in the 72nd minute Hasan Bashir, the Pakistani forward made his way through the Bangladesh defence, but his powerful grounder was punched to safety by Mamun Khan.
Unmarked Pakistani midfielder Zia could have given his side the lead, but his shot went just wide of the side post in the 79th minute. When everybody was sniffing a draw Bangladesh defenders failed to stop Pakistani midfielder Zia, who cut the ball back to Kaleemullah and the tall forward kept his cool to tap the ball past Mamun Khan.
However, despite finishing with equal four points as India, Pakistan were also denied a place in the semis as India advanced with a better goal difference.
Match Highlights
Bangladesh 1-2 Pakistan Emily 30 Ishaq 36 Kaleem Ullah 92
