Bangladesh’s aspirations in the SAFF Men’s Futsal Championship suffered a terminal blow on Thursday as a late-game collapse resulted in a heavy 5–1 defeat to Pakistan.
Despite entering the fixture with momentum from previous victories, the red-and-green side struggled with clinical execution and defensive discipline, tasting their second loss of the tournament.
The match began with Bangladesh firmly on the front foot. Throughout the opening exchanges, they dictated the tempo and pinned Pakistan back into their own half.
However, a recurring theme of poor finishing haunted the side, as several clear-cut scoring opportunities were squandered. Against the run of play, Pakistan broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when Ali Agha unleashed a powerful strike from the right flank, allowing his side to carry a 1–0 lead into the interval.
The second half saw a shift in dynamics. While Bangladesh had controlled the first period, Pakistan emerged with renewed intensity, ruthlessly exploiting defensive lapses.
In the 12th minute of the half, Zaid Ullah Khan dispossessed a lingering Bangladesh defender to double the lead. Bangladesh briefly reignited hope in the 16th minute when Ashkar Ahmed pulled one back with a sharp, angled finish, reducing the deficit to 2–1.
However, the resurgence was short-lived. Chasing an equaliser, Bangladesh left themselves vulnerable at the back. Pakistan struck three times in quick succession during the final minutes, including a close-range tap-in from Salar Ahmed Khan and a remarkable goal from Pakistan’s substitute goalkeeper, Ali Agha, just seconds before the final whistle.
Following this result, Bangladesh have no chance of being crowned champions. With only seven points from five matches (two wins, two losses, and one draw), they sit third in the table. They are now mathematically unable to overtake the unbeaten Maldives or second-placed Pakistan in the race for the trophy.
The squad must now regroup for their final fixture, as Bangladesh face Nepal this Saturday. While the title is out of reach, the team will be playing for pride and a respectable finish in the standings. Elsewhere, the Bangladesh women’s team, led by Sabina Khatun, remains top of their table and will look to maintain their unbeaten streak against Pakistan on Friday.
NSA
