By M Saad Basir   -  After three years of no international football, it seemed that Jose Antonio Nogueira’s men would have found it tough to beat the odds at the 2018 Asian Games. Heading into a group comprised of Nepal, Bhuttan and the hosts Bangladesh, the road to semifinals was anything but smooth. Captain and formidable striker Hassan Bashir’s return from injury certainly lifted the spirits of the men in green but they realized they needed much more to make an impact at the SAFF Cup 2018.

When Nepal scored the equalizer in 82nd minute, majority of Pakistani fans expected things to slip away. However, the sheer determination of Pak team left no stones unturned as Adil’s cross was headed in by Ali in the 94th minute, securing a historic win for the country.

The game against Bangladesh was pitted to be a nail-biting encounter. The hosts had enjoyed a rather comfortable outing against Bhutan, winning 2-0 while Pakistan had managed to somehow scrape out a victory in their first group game. The game began with a rather surprising tactic from Noguiera as he was keen on putting men behind the ball. The defensive strategy worked well until the 86th minute when Gosh’s throw in was headed home by Barman. The result was termed as rather unfortunate.

Group A had become interesting till then, considering the teams going through were to be possibly decided on goal difference. Pakistan had to win by a clear margin of three goals, otherwise, their qualification would have depended on the Bangladesh and Nepal game. A different set of playing style saw the Pakistani team score two prolific goals in the first half, only to wait until the last minute for their third. Two wonderful through balls from Muhammad Ali proved pivotal in determining the qualification from group A. Ironically, Pakistan’s qualification meant an exit for the hosts Bangladesh and paved way for an epic semifinal between two arch-rivals Pakistan and India.

Meeting India in the semifinals was no less than an achievement but the Shaheens remained hungry for another victory that would set them up for a potential final. The Indian side was fielded by a fairly young squad but their performance at the Asian Games had given them ample confidence. Once again, team Pakistan relied on a defensive tactic, aiming to break on the counter each time the opportunity was presented. After a stalemate first half, India quickly pounced on a chance in the 49th minute with Manvir Singh scoring from a wonderful cross. The second goal came 20 minutes later when India broke brilliantly on the counter and setting up Singh for another emphatic finish. The third goal in the 83rd minute sealed the fate for the Pakistani team as a late goal from Hassan Bashir rarely offered any consolation.

The tournament may have ended in a way that most of the Pakistani fans would not have liked but the team has certainly left its impression. After three years of political turmoil and Pakistan’s absence from the international arena, it has only amplified the passion and zeal that they have for the game. Despite Pakistan’s own national channels not broadcasting their own matches, thousands of fans tuned into their live streams to watch their team play. This reflects towards the passion that is instilled in this nation for the game and provides the government with more reasoning to make serious efforts towards promoting the sport. In fact, now future of Pakistan football seems bright.

By M Saad Basir