Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship final

Dhaka, Dec 14 (BDNEWS) An first-half penalty strike from defender Mohammad Sujan took the defending champions Bangladesh in the final of the 4th South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship outplaying hosts Pakistan by a solitary goal at the Peoples Sports Complex in Karachi, Pakistan Wednesday.

Now, Bangladesh face India, who beat Maldives also by a solitary goal in the day's first semis, in the final on Saturday at the same venue.

With the result, Bangladesh reached the final third times in row after playing the final in 1999, India and 2003 in Dhaka.

It's more sweater to the nation to see that Bangladesh stormed into final beating Pakistan with taking the inspiration in the victory month of December.

Though Bangladesh confirmed their final berths, but they had to offer a hard labour against the tough Pakistan, as the defending champions could not show their real performance in the ways they played in previous three matches.

Not only the Bangladeshi defenders -– Hasan Al Mamun, Rajani Kanta Barmon, Mohammad Sujan and Firoz Mahmud Titu -– produced a brave resistance against the tough Pakistan, but also brought the all-important goal through a penalty kick.

Bangladesh lost the mid-field control to Pakistani playmaker Farooq Shah Abdul Aziz and Mudassar Saeed and they also played a plenty of miss-pass.

Pakistan dominated the entire first half with controlling the mid-field and several times came close to score, but the hosts' forwards failed to avail the opportunities. But, the second-half was mostly concentrated at the mid-filed as Bangladesh played cautiously after taking a first-half injury minute lead.

In the match, Bangladesh survived from two close calls of Pakistan after 15 minutes and defenders Rajani and Hasan Al Mamun thwarted both the Pakistani efforts.

Pakistani striker Mohammad Essa's a close-range shot sailed over the Bangladesh-post harmlessly in the 25th minute.

One minute later, a Maitur Munna's low shot at the top of the box was froze to the hands of Pakistan captain-cum-custodian Jaffar Khan while Jaffar again rescued his side from curving header of Farhad in 28th minute.

Pakistani strike Essa came close to score in the 30th minute after dodging past defender Sujan inside the box, and Bangladesh's reliable stopper Hasan Al Mamun cleared Essa's effort at the cost of corner.

Striker Alfaz took a curving shot outside the box, but the ball narrowly went off in the 41st minute.

Playmaker Arman Mia set unmarked left-stopper Titu inside the box, but Pakistani Abdul Aziz fouled the stopper roughly and Iranian referee did not hesitate award a penalty for Bangladesh.

Defender Sujan converted the goal in injury minutes for the champions.

Bangladesh Squad: Aminul, Hasan Al Mamun, Mohammad Sujan, Rajani Kanta Barman, Firoz Mahmud Titu (Parvez Babu), Arman Mia, Matiur Munna, Alfaz (Ujjal), Ariful Kabir Farhad, Kanchan (Emily) and Arif Khan Joy.

BDNEWS/