Pakistan storms into semifinal

KATHMANDU, Aug 3: Pakistan stormed into the semifinal of SAFF U-16 Championship Football Tournament on Wednesday as the winner of group A with a 6-0 thumping over the Maldives at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. Pakistan also became the first team to make it through to the knockout stage.



Striker Mohammed Bilal turned hero for the Pakistani colts who netted double brace while Sher Ali scored twice. Pakistan succeeded to score five goals in the second half following an early fifth minute lead from Bilal. Pakistan netted four goals in the last 11 minutes.[break]



Pakistan had defeated India 1-0 during the opener on Monday in the six-team contest of South Asian countries.



The Maldives with a match in hand still have chance of making it to the semifinal stage. However, it should beat India in its second match on Friday.



In the one-sided match physically taller and stronger Pakistani players dominated the show from the beginning until the final whistle.



"We had expected a big margin win and finally achieved it," delighted Pakistan coach Sajjad Mehmood said during the post match conference.



A four star, Bilal´s excitement was no lesser than his coach. "We will return home with the trophy," said Bilal, adding, "We had expected to beat Maldives and we achieved it."



Maldives colts, of comparatively weaker built, challenged their Pakistani counterparts before the interval but they could not continue with the pace in the second half.



Pakistani custodian Mohammad Usman Khan was spared hardships as Maldives made only one attack on goal the goal post. In the 47th minute, Hamdhaan Ali´s 25 yard free-kick against Maldives rebounded after hitting the bar.



Bilal gave an early fifth minute lead through a header in Mansoor Khan´s corner. But Pakistan could not utilize two other scoring chances in the first half. Unmarked Bilal tapped in Sher Ali´s attractive pass in the box to double the tally in the 56th minute.



Sher made it 3-0 in the 79th when he headed a cross from Khan and got another a minute later with his lone effort beating two defenders and goalie. Sher, meanwhile, squandered two other chances successively.



Bilal completed hat-trick six minutes from time through his sole effort and killed the match in the fading moment with a powerful volley shot from the edge of box in an acute pass of Ashfaq Uddin.



Now Pakistan will take on the runners up from group A consisting of host Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which is yet to be decided.


Thursday´s match

Nepal Vs Bangladesh @ 15:30 NST

Venue: Dasharath Stadium

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