Pakistan manage to play Draw against stronger Bangladesh in Opening Match Of SAFF Championship 2011

The SAFF Championship opener saw tournament favourites Bangladesh being held by Pakistan at the Jawaharlal Lal Nehru Stadium, Delhi in a group B match.

Bangladesh coach Nikolai Ilievski preferred to start with his third choice goalkeeper in Sahidul Alam while Pakistan started with their foreign based players in Atif Bashir and Adnan Ahmed.

It was Pakistan who had the first shy on goal as Atif Bashir’s attempt saw goalkeeper Alam beaten all ends out as early as in the second minute.

Bangladesh looked to play along the ground and build the match from the back. The Tigers did earn a couple of free-kicks in the opposition’s half though goalkeeper Jafar Khan was up to the task.

The first real chance of the match came in the 24th minute as a Jadeed Khan Pathan’s cross from the right saw Sahidul Alam miss the flight of the ball. The onrushing Faisal Iqbal just had to the tap the ball but saw his effort go over the bar.

Six minutes later, Alam had to come off his line in order to deny Atif Bashir after the Bangladesh backline failed to keep a tab on the Pakistan frontman.

Around the 40th minute, Jadeed Khan Pathan once again was the provider of a decent cross which Saddam Hussain, under no pressure, sent it over.

Bangladesh recovered before the end of the first half when Pranotosh Das’ long ranger saw Jafar Khan fumble before the ball was cleared.

Star striker Jahid Hassan Ameli had a couple of opportunities to make it 1-0 after Islam Maun’s header came off the crossbar.

The second session saw Bangladesh coach substituted his two strikers for Mithun Chowdhury and Atiqur Meshu hoping for a breakthrough.

The move looked to have paid dividends as Meshu brought in the much needed pace and sent him some tantalizing crosses from the left.

Pakistan could have nudged ahead when Jadeed Khan Pathan’s flick was just about cleared on time to keep the scores level.

Sahidul Alam was called upon from an Adnan Ahmed’s free-kick which was punched away.

Meshu and Mithun combined as the former’s cross from the left saw the latter’s first time volley being punched away for a corner by the rival custodian.

The match ended with the same scoreline as neither of the teams managed to get a breakthrough. The man of the match award was handed to Jafar Khan of Pakistan.