Pakistan pip hosts to last four
Pakistan reached the semifinals of the SAFF Suzuki Cup with an emphatic 3-0 win over Bhutan in their last Group A match at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
With six points from three games, Pakistan, who were out of international football for more than two years due to a FIFA ban,.....
Ahead of the final group fixture between Bangladesh and Nepal, Pakistan knew they might need a victory to go through and Jose Antonio Nogueira's charges accomplished that feat with a clinical performance, thanks to goals from Muhammad Riaz, Hassan Bashir and Ahmed Faheem.
From the outset, Pakistan put huge pressure on Bhutan, who had come into the match on the back of two defeats.
The men in green shirts came close to taking the lead three times within the first 12 minutes before Riaz broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, slamming home from close range after being set up by a header from skipper Saddam Hussain.
Bhutan's premier striker Chencho Gyeltshen squandered a gilt-edged opportunity two minutes later by driving one way off target before Bashir doubled the margin with a drive from inside the box just before the half-hour mark.
After resumption, both teams looked a bit tired and play was confined mostly to the midfield, with Pakistan enjoying better ball possession while Bhutan created two opportunities in the last stages but failed to cash in.
And then Pakistan substitute Faheem wrapped up the victory one minute into stoppage time with a placing shot after being set up by Muhammad Ali.
