DHAKA — Pakistan's national football team carved out a landmark victory on Saturday, edging past hosts Bangladesh 1-0 in a tense semi-final encounter at the Bangabandhu National Stadium to secure their maiden appearance in the SAFF Championship final. Operating under intense pressure in front of a partisan home crowd, the Green Shirts persevered through a tightly contested match until a late breakthrough sealed their progression to the title clash.
The opening half proved to be a cagey affair as both sides traded early blows without finding the back of the net. While Pakistan mounted initial pressure with two quick attacking opportunities—stymied by Bangladesh goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon—the hosts gradually seized control of possession. Bangladesh came close to breaking the deadlock when Rakib Hossain unleashed a powerful strike that was successfully blocked by the Pakistan goalkeeper before striking the woodwork. With the scoreboard locked at 0-0 through 85 minutes, the stalemate was finally broken in the 86th minute when substitute Hayan Khattak, introduced in the 74th minute for Ali Uzair, delivered a precise assist enabling Abdul Samad Arshad to breach the home defence with a calculated finish.
The dramatic late strike proved insurmountable for the home side, who frantically injected multiple substitutes deep into injury time during the third minute of added time. However, the Pakistan defensive line held firm under mounting pressure to preserve their narrow lead and confirm the historic triumph. This milestone achievement marks a watershed moment for the national squad, which entered the tournament's knockout stages following a resilient group-stage campaign.
The team's journey to the final featured an opening 3-2 defeat against arch-rivals India, followed by a resounding 3-0 victory over the Maldives that revived their tournament ambitions. Securing the second spot in Group B, Pakistan's advancement was ultimately cemented when group leaders India defeated the Maldives 1-0 in the preceding fixture. The Green Shirts will now return to the same venue on Tuesday to face India in the tournament's summit clash.