Rasool Pakistan's hero

A ninth minute strike by Sharfaraz Rasool ensured Pakistan topped Group A in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship with a lone goal victory against Afghanistan at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The 26-year-old midfielder separated the two neighbours with a powerful right-footer after being nicely fed by Qadeer Ahmed at the top of the box.

Already confirmed of a place in the semifinal with victories against India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan preferred to a casual approach against a team that has only returned to the international scene after a long absence.

Rasool's third goal in the eight-team meet made him the joint top-scorer with the Maldives Ali Shiham.

He scored the solitary goal against India and struck the second in his side's 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka in the previous match.

The defeat on the other hand completed Afghanistan's unimpressive showing. They return home winless and goalless. Even the influence of five Germany-based booters could not help them from being eliminated form the preliminary stage. They conceded six goals in three games including a 4-0 whitewash by India.

They however tried their best to bow out with goal to their name, but were only denied by Pakistan custodian Jaffar Khan.

Pakistan themselves were thwarted by the woodwork in getting a second goal when Quadeer's 40th header came off the far post.

The high-flying Pakistani now have to wait for outcome of the two final Group B games today to know their semifinal opponents.

Their likely opponents will be the winners between Maldives and Nepal, provided that hosts Bangladesh do not lose badly against newcomers Bhutan in the other match.

TEAMS

PAKISTAN: Jafar Khan, Ashfaq Ahmed, Tanvir Ahmed, Haroon Yousuf, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Sameen (Zakir Hussain), Sazzad Hussain, Ayez Mahmud, Sharfaraz Rasool (Majeed), Shahid, Aamir Khan (Sazzad Haider).

AFGHANISTAN: Abdul Salem, Najib Naderi, Ahmad Zia (Rohllah), Omar Nazar, Ahmed Rahil, Bashir Ahmed (Farid Ahmed), Nasir Ahmed, Najubullah, Obaidullah (Kamrani Bashir), Reza Razaee and David Yagubi.

Referee: Ram Krishna Gosh (Bangladesh).