Pakistan Under-16 football team made history, as it qualified for the final of the inaugural SAFF U-16 Football Championship after a tough semi-final against Bangladesh at Kathmandu on Monday. Pakistan's two best players Mansoor Khan and Sher Ali scored a goal each near the full-time whistle to secure a 2-0 victory for the young guns, says a message received here.
The overnight rain had left a soggy pitch in Kathmandu to play the semi-final on. In the first half, Pakistan came close to scoring at the half hour mark with Mansoor Khan and Muhammad Bilal playing a neat one two at the edge of the Bangladeshi box with the former's powerful shot going agonisingly close. Bangladesh tried some counter-attacking game but the defence line brilliantly led by Muneer never let them through on goal. Just before the break, a Mansoor Khan cross almost found Muhammad Zeeshan whose slide in on goal only missed the ball and glory by a fraction of a second. The game was generally well contested but remained goalless in the first half. After the break, the game opened up as both sides went for the winning goal.
The Pakistani players, donning fresh kits having replaced the ones wet in the first half, immediately had some chances to score with last ditch defending denying them goals. When Mansoor Khan's beautiful free-kick hit the top of the cross bar to go out of play, extra time looked inevitable. But just before the 90 minute mark, Pakistan's best player on the night Mansoor Khan struck a 25 yard shot over the Bangladeshi keeper to give Pakistan the lead in 89th minute. Just as the Bangladeshi boys started trying for a desperate last minute push to equalise, coach Sajjad' young guns put the nail in the coffin and made it 2-0. Sher Ali dribbled past two defenders to score from a tight angle in 90+2 minute and send Pakistan into the SAFF U16 Championship final. Pakistan U-16 team will face the winner of Monday's other semi-final between Nepal and India.