Pakistan dent India
Underdogs Pakistan pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory against perennial foes India to kick start the Third South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship at the packed Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Sharfaraz Rasool scored the all-important goal five minutes into the second half.
The defeat was a serious blow for Stefan Constantine's team who desperately missed the services of ace striker Baichung Bhutia and a couple of other top booters who failed to make the Dhaka trip due to injury. India aiming to complete a hattrick of titles in the regional competition having won the previous two editions.
It was a rare victory for Pakistan in football over their bitter rivals as they last won way back in 1991 with a 1-0 triumph in the Colombo SAF Games.
Pakistan broke the deadlock from a quick counter attack with Wadeer Ahmed sending a nice cross from the left-hand corner of the field. And once the ball beat a confused Indian custodian Naseem Akhter, a lurking Sharfaraz made no mistake to chest it into the net.
The 26-year-old midfielder's strike was more than enough for Pakistan to defend their fort for the remaining 40 minutes against their lackluster opponents to celebrate a memorable night.
"This night will go down as the best thing to ever happen in my 12 years as a national players," said elated Pakistan captain Haroon Yousuf at a post-match briefing. The 31-year defender has been playing for the national since the 1985 SAF Games in Dhaka.
Pakistan coach Lutfi termed the victory even sweeter since his side began the tournament as underdogs.
"This is a very special win for us. Definitely the absence of Bhutia played a big part in our success. He is a very difficult striker to mark. But hats off to my defence for their splendid work after the goal," he said.
But the Pakistani coach was not ready to say whether winning their opening Group A match would have an impact at home, where football is considered as minor sport compared to cricket and hockey.
While Pakistan played according to their strength, the new-look Indian side failed to live up to their potential.
It was evident from the start that Pakistan wanted to sit back in their own half allowing India to come forward and hit on the break. But India failed to maintain a sustained pressure.
Though they got a few chances in both halves, yet they could not show the kind of football they demonstrated at the Busan Asiad and the LG Cup. They looked rather listless in the mid-pitch with the only exception being some energetic runs by Jo Paul Anchery from either flank.
Veteran striker IM Vijayan often came down to act as provider, but his aging limbs failed to give the necessary spark that his team badly needed without Bhutia around.
"We have created a few chances. But that was not enough against Pakistan who battled extremely hard. It was a bad day, but any other day the score could have been 5-1 in our favour," said Indian coach Stephen Constantine.
The Briton once again said that a team, which misses four frontline players and only trains five days together, can expect this sort of start.
"At the same time I do not want to take away anything from the Pakistani effort. But still we deserved a point," he said.
But Constantine feared a seventh player might join the growing injury list.
"Alvito got a spike in the first half. I'm not sure whether he would be fit before our next game against Afghanistan (Sunday)," said the Briton, adding that his team would bounce back.
Strangely, for such emotional match where tempers could spill over, no cards had to be shown tanks to the relief of the referee.
TEAMS
Pakistan: Jafar Khan, Ashfaq Ahmed, Tanvir Ahmed, Haroon Yousuf, Amir Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Zahir Hossain (Sameen), Ayez Mahmud (Shahzad), Sharfaraz Rasool, Hussain (Khuda Buk) and Shahid.
India: Naseem Akhtar, Debjit Gosh, Roberto Fernando, Suresh, Jo Paul Anchery, Sameer Naik (Subash Chakraborty), Venkatesh (Ashim Biswas), Alvito D Chuna (Jules Alberto), Renedy Singh, Abhishek Yadav and IM Vijayan.
Referee: Tayeb Hossain (Bangladesh).
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