Pakistan shrugged off their previous match defeat as they bounced back strongly to blank Bhutan by 3-0 goals in their group A third and final match of the SAFF Suzuki Cup held on Saturday at Bangabandhu National Stadium, reports BSS.
With this day’s win, Pakistan secured six points with two wins and one lose from three matches, while Bhutan, which exit from the championship race, failed to secure any points playing the same number of matches.
Now Pakistan will have to wait for the result of Bangladesh-Nepal match to go into the semifinal as Bangladesh also have six points with two wins with one match to go with Nepal while Nepal have collected three points from two matches with one win and one lose.
In the day’s match, Pakistan went to attack early in the 10th minute when Hassan Naweed well judge header from inside the danger zone off Saddam Hussain’s cross was brilliantly saved by Bhutan custodian Ngawang Jamphel.
However Mohammad Riaz gave Pakistan a deserving lead in the 20th minute. Receiving a head pass Hassan Naweed he sent the ball home with a close range angular shot.
Hassan Bashir doubled the lead for Pakistan in the 29th minute. This time he ran down quickly off a pass from Muhammad Ali and sent the ball home with a right footer shot giving no chance to Bhutan custodian Jamphel.
Substitute Ahmed Faheem completed the winners’ tally scoring the third goal for Pakistan in the 90+1 minute. Taking a short pass from Muhammad Ali onrushing Faheem placed the ball to the net with perfect left footed shot from close range.
After the resumption, Naveed Ahmed missed scoring chance in the 65th minute when his right footed shot from the centre of the box was nicely saved by Bhutan goalie Jamphel.
Bhutan however got some scoring chances in the second half. In the 50th minute midfielder Kencho Tobgay’s left footed shot off Tshering Dirji pass from outside the box was brilliantly saved by Pakistan custodian Ijaz Batt.
Bhutan missed another scoring in the 56th minute when Kabi Rai’s left footed shot off Choki Wangchuk cross from the vantage position narrowly missed the target.
Pakistani custodian Yousuf Ijaz Butt denied another Bhutan’s attempt when foiled Chenchho’s right footed angular shot from close range at a cost of corner in the 86th minute.
Pakistan dominated the proceeding especially in the first half and notched their deserving victory while Bhutan also got some scoring chances and played attacking football in the second half but they failed to convert those goals lack of proper finishing.
Earlier, Pakistan got off to a winning start in the championship as they stunned Nepal by 2-1 goals but lost to host Bangladesh by a solitary goal in their group second match.
On the other hand, Bhutan lost to Bangladesh and Nepal by 0-2 and 0-4 goals respectively in their group phase engagements.