India ends Pakistan's fairy-tale run at SAFF Championship
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India defeated Pakistan 3-1 in the semi-final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The defeat ended Pakistan's fairy-tale run in the tournament, where the Men in Green — taking part at an international event after three years — exceeded everyone's expectations.
Even in defeat, the Pakistan players gave a good account of their game, holding a far higher-ranked Indian side to a goalless first half before all hell broke loose in the second.
Their resistance ended in the 49th minute when India's Ashique Kuruniyan delivered a low ball that was poked home by striker Manvir Singh.
Singh got his second of the night in the 69th minute before Sumeet Passi added a third seven minutes from time.
Mohsin Ali and Lallianzuala Chhangte were both sent off in the 86th minute before Pakistan found a late consolation.
By that time, however, India had effectively sealed the win and booked their berth in the final opposite Maldives.
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On DawnNews
Comments (59) Closed
Sep 12, 2018 08:32pm
Much more experienced Indian side?
Pakistan senior team was playing against Indian u23 team
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Sep 12, 2018 08:36pm
Well Done Pakistan Football Team to reach the semi finals after a long break from internationals
Keep Improving Guys ...
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Sep 12, 2018 08:38pm
Congratulations to Indian team!!
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Sep 12, 2018 08:56pm
Pakistan plays football. really?
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Sep 12, 2018 08:59pm
No problems if India played well then the deserve credit. Well played.
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Sep 12, 2018 09:03pm
@Naveen Mohan - india's fifa rank is 96. so,man, both are in worst category only...
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Sep 12, 2018 09:05pm
@Ashton They are indeed more experienced by Pakistani standard. Better facilities, better education and better training.
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Sep 12, 2018 09:07pm
India playing with there under-23 team. Pak have to play more game to compete with Indian team
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Sep 12, 2018 09:12pm
Soon India is going to become the soccer powerhouse in Asia.. The target is to be top 5 in next 5 years and then in top 50 in next 10. Hopefully we can see India play world cup in next 10 years. I wish good talented pakistani players could play in Indian super league.
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Sep 12, 2018 09:14pm
@susmita don't be apologist to Pak, Pakistan rank is 203 in figs rankings, secondly it was not India's senior team it was India u 23 team for it info
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Sep 12, 2018 09:21pm
Andhon mein kaana raja (one-eyed is king among the blind)
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Sep 12, 2018 09:25pm
@Naveen Mohan Same question to Indians .... really?
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Sep 12, 2018 09:26pm
India has sent its junior team
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Sep 12, 2018 09:27pm
@susmita India 96 Pakistan 201 srilanka is 200
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Sep 12, 2018 09:35pm
@susmita For your information, Pakistan's fifa ranking is 201, the lowest in south Asia
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Sep 12, 2018 09:36pm
Where is Dr. Salaria? Keep up green shirts, hang on tough...
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Sep 12, 2018 09:38pm
Please stop viewing this as a matter of national pride and stop taking away the joy of the game . A one sided game is no fun and a good contest is the best reward for a sports fan . Please increase participation at all levels from club sport and beyond so that sports can flourish in the region and not be held hostage to a political agenda.
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Sep 12, 2018 09:39pm
Congratulation to both teams
India for reaching to the Final.
Pakistan to reach far beyond expectations !
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Sep 12, 2018 09:43pm
congrats to indian team and well played pakistan
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Sep 12, 2018 09:49pm
well played guys, out smart them if you look India ranking compare to ours.
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Sep 12, 2018 09:55pm
Win or lose in the game happens. It doesn't matter if Pakistan lost in semi final. The more important thing the revival of football in Pakistan. Pakistan Football Federation should improve the infrastructure of football at grass root level in the country. There should be more grounds and stadiums for football in big cities of Pakistan. There is a talent, the more awareness will be given of the football in Pakistan can lead the most emergence of young players.
Well done Pakistan football team and good luck for the future keep working hard
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Sep 12, 2018 09:56pm
It was under-23 team of India. They lacked international experience. Still India gave good result.
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Sep 12, 2018 10:00pm
@Ch.Yasir Azim
Outsmart??? India did not play it's "senior" team like Pakistan. It was U23 team that defeated Pakistani senior team.
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Sep 12, 2018 10:01pm
I wish fans support this game as this is a global one
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Sep 12, 2018 10:08pm
Pakistan should have sent its Street Boys Team that reached the world final.
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Sep 12, 2018 10:09pm
First Hockey than Soccer, India is defeating Pakistan.
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Sep 12, 2018 10:09pm
@FARID Good excuse.
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Sep 12, 2018 10:11pm
Pakistanis were playing physically against the Indian kids,it was odd to watch
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Sep 12, 2018 10:12pm
Indian u-23 experimental side beats a national team of Pakistan
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Sep 12, 2018 10:19pm
@Ch.Yasir Azim Losing 3-1 is outsmarting???? Keep outsmarting and losing then
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Sep 12, 2018 10:31pm
@Ripan under 23 are not kids
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Sep 12, 2018 10:42pm
@Anand Tiwari. Most of the supposed Indian commentators are hung up on their team being U23 rather than revelling in victory. Just goes to show negative mindset. Welldone to Pak team for making it this far and giving us hope. Congratulations to the Indian soccer team.
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Sep 12, 2018 10:44pm
this was India's second string side. none of senior players were playing
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Sep 12, 2018 10:49pm
@Ch.Yasir Azim but it was under 23 team of india.not the senior team
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Sep 12, 2018 10:53pm
Bangladesh also beat Pakistan 1-0 in 2018 SAFF games at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka.
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Sep 12, 2018 11:02pm
If we can only organize this sport better....and give it due importance...
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Sep 12, 2018 11:09pm
There was no fair-tale run for the Pakistan team. In the league stages they lost to Bangladesh who did not even qualify for the knock-out stages. Pakistan team had several players who are playing regularly in foreign clubs. Yet their performance is less than the adequate.
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Sep 12, 2018 11:35pm
@ Farhan Ahmed, Agreed. We need to put more emphasis on football rather than the cricket in South Asia.
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Sep 12, 2018 11:36pm
Had it beet the regular Indian side lead by Sunil Chettri. The goal difference would had been way bigger. Indian Super League is improving football really well for Indian youngsters too.
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Sep 12, 2018 11:45pm
This was an India u 23 team. This was not Indias top senior team that qualified for the Asia cup in uae
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Sep 13, 2018 12:03am
Congrates to indians for bringing politics in sports. I am glad Pakistan still plays football as a sport as can be seen in this comment section.
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Sep 13, 2018 12:09am
Well good for them.
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Sep 13, 2018 12:14am
India have sent their U23 team to SAFF championship against National Teams of other nations including Pakistan. So Indian U23 side did pretty well against experienced teams of other nations. But it is good to see that Pakistan National team being in good form and reached to semifinals of SAFF championship after three years. Quite honestly PFF need to introspect in their National Football team which got beaten by U23 team.
On a lighter note : First step of improvement is accepting failures.
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Sep 13, 2018 12:40am
Congrats to Pak Team for making it to the semi's, even though India and other countries have tried their best to marginalize Pakistan and keep it away from sports.
Proud of Team GREEN.
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Sep 13, 2018 01:05am
Pakistan still did very well regardless of over 3years without playing. Pakistan needs to invest by creating a propper sponsored franchise league's all over the country and telecast it live in HD. That's how people will love the sport and surely it will overtake cricket. Also the Goverment should create football pitchz for locals and football courts in every town and villages for the locals and future talent. Our media such as Dawn should also work harder to promote the sport. Football is a future investment and Pakistan can easily make profit if implemented and organised well.
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Sep 13, 2018 02:27am
Foot-ball like other games needs power, practice and resources.Many of our schools have no foot-ball team or coach.,Some of the physical education teachers have no training in coaching and playground.OUR physical education area needs competent teachers and curriculum and match experience.With this background we will get the right kind of material and talent for training players for International competition.
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Sep 13, 2018 02:30am
Results will be different in coming years. We have a sportman as PM. Pakistsn has talented football players they just need the support.
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Sep 13, 2018 02:33am
‘Showing his displeasure over the abject performance of various national sports bodies, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday decided to constitute a task force for the revamping of sports sector in the country.’.
Change is coming and with it trophys. Stay tuned.
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Sep 13, 2018 05:40am
@M. Emad. Overall Pakistan had a better tournament. Especially, after a 3 year absence.
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Sep 13, 2018 05:58am
It's just a game. And the truth is both teams are way behind in rankings... So both teams need to improve.
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Sep 13, 2018 06:42am
Congrats to India and well played Pakistan.
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Sep 13, 2018 07:29am
Our football players hv been sacrificef at the cost of lazy cricket ..a great injustice is being done specially to hockey athletics ..
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Sep 13, 2018 07:37am
Cricket has destroyed our all sports .
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Sep 13, 2018 07:53am
Boys played well
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Sep 13, 2018 08:45am
what pathetic ground condition
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Sep 13, 2018 09:21am
Best of luck Pakistan team. Played well. Want to see more effort from Pakistan side. Congrats India for their win.
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Sep 14, 2018 09:40am
Pakistan did pretty well to reach last 4 given that playing after long lay-off of 3 years. Our teams needs to play more friendlies and need to have PSL type league to improve our playing standard. Football needs to be given the importance for it in order to grow.
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Sep 14, 2018 01:22pm
@Ashton I was also looking him......
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Sep 14, 2018 07:54pm
Congratulations to the winners and to their challengers.
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