Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 21 years ago, played in final, can they repeat it?
After 21 years, Bangladesh will face Pakistan again in the semi-final. The opponent are the same, the semi-final is the same South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.
The difference was only in time. Bangladesh defeated Pakistan on December 14, 2005 in the semi-final and reached the final of that SAFF Championship.
This time Hamza Choudhury will lead Bangladesh, while Yousuf Uaz Butt will lead Pakistan.
Today at 8:30pm, the two countries will face each other in the semi-final again at the National Stadium in Dhaka. After a long 21 years, the home side are in the final again.
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 1-0 at the People’s Stadium in Karachi. Bangladesh got a penalty in the 44th minute. Defender Mohammed Sujan’s perfect kick found the Pakistan net.
That victory was not just a match victory, it was a special achievement for Bangladesh’s football.
Just two days before Victory Day, the joy of defeating them on Pakistan soil and reaching the final spread from the Bangladesh team players to the Bangladeshi fans in Karachi. Such a victory on Pakistani soil was a different emotion.
More than two decades have passed since then. During this time, Bangladesh have participated in 8 SAFF Championships. Sometimes they were eliminated in the group stage, sometimes they were unable to overcome the semi-final.
Bangladesh only one time became champions in SAFF Championship. The hosts beat Maldives by 5-3 goals in the tie-breaker of the final at the National Stadium in Dhaka in 2003.
After a long wait, Bangladesh got the opportunity to play in the semi-final again in this tournament. This time, the team are standing on the verge of passing that semi-final and reaching the final.
The history of the Bangladesh-Pakistan football duel is also promising for Bangladesh. In the face-to-face matches between the two countries, Bangladesh have won eight, Pakistan five.
The remaining five matches ended in draws. Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 4-0 in the 1999 SAFF Championship.
They also won 1-0 in the 2005 SAFF Championship. There is also the memory of defeating Pakistan 3-0 in Dhaka in the 2011 World Cup qualifiers.
The last time the two teams faced each other in the 2018 SAFF Championship. Bangladesh won that match 1-0. That is, Bangladesh have room for comfort in their recent history against Pakistan.
However, the semi-final battle cannot be won with statistics or past memories. To reach the final, Bangladesh will have to prove themselves on the field.
There are a bunch of footballers who have played in foreign leagues in the Pakistan team.
They have made it to the semi-final by losing to India 2-3 goals in the group stage and defeating Maldives by 3-0. On the other hand, Bangladesh have class players like Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Farhaan Ali Wahid, Quazem Shah, Shuki and others.
Bangladesh beat Bhutan by a solitary goal in the first group match and blanked Sri Lanka 4-0 in the second group match.
Will Bangladesh can be able to return to the final by defeating the same opponent in Dhaka? Bangladeshi football fans are now waiting for the answer.