Bangladesh Eye First SAFF Championship Final in 21 Years as Pakistan Stand in the Way
Bangladesh vs Pakistan SAFF Championship semifinal: Bangladesh Eye First SAFF Championship Final in 21 Years: Bangladesh face Pakistan in Saturday's second semifinal at the National Stadium in Dhaka, with a place in the final on the line. Bangladesh are chasing their first final appearance since 2005, while Pakistan seek a maiden title boosted by overseas-based players.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan SAFF Championship semifinal, Digi Mart USA News (Dhaka, Bangladesh): Former champions Bangladesh stand one win away from their first SAFF Championship final since 2005, but Pakistan stand in their way when the two sides meet in Saturday’s second semifinal at the National Stadium. The match kicks off at 8:30pm, following the first semifinal between holders India and Bhutan at 3:00pm, according to The Daily Star.
For Bangladesh, a win would end a 21-year wait for a final appearance and move the team within one victory of a second regional title, following their only triumph on home soil in 2003. Coach Thomas Dooley’s side topped Group A, scoring five goals and conceding none, including a 4-0 win over Sri Lanka, and have been backed by overseas-based players such as Sheffield United midfielder Hamza Choudhury.
Pakistan, coached by Nolberto Solano, have made an uneven but encouraging start. They lost 3-2 to defending champions India after trailing 3-0, then beat Maldives 3-0. Five overseas-based regulars, including Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Adil Nabi, Abdul Samad Arshad and Ali Akbar Khan, missed the group stage because it fell outside the FIFA international window, and how quickly they settle into the side remains an open question.
Pakistan have never reached a SAFF Championship final, having featured in the semifinals four times, and have faced domestic challenges, including no top-tier league action since the 2018-19 season and several FIFA suspensions since 2017. In the last 10 meetings between the two sides, Bangladesh won four times, drew five and lost once, with Bangladesh winning 1-0 in 2018, the last time the teams met.
Dooley acknowledged Pakistan’s quality, saying their overseas players have strong football knowledge from playing at a higher level in Europe. He added that Bangladesh must show fans what they can do, and the introduction of Video Assistant Referee for the knockout rounds is expected to add another dimension to what is likely to be a physical, closely fought contest.
This report is based on a single publisher article and has not been independently verified.
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