Pakistan and India are all geared up for a high-octane clash in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U19 Championship final, slated to take place on September 30 at the Dashrath Rangasala Stadium in Nepal.
Full Match Highlights
Pakistan’s road to the final was nothing short of thrilling as they secured their spot after a nail-biting 6-5 victory over Bhutan earlier in the day. The Green Shirts owe their final berth to the remarkable skills of their goalkeeper, Sahil Gul, who made a crucial save during the penalty shootout.
On the other side of the bracket, India triumphed over the host nation, Nepal, in a penalty shootout after a closely contested match that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Winning Moment
The upcoming final is generating immense excitement among football enthusiasts and fans, as it promises a captivating showdown between two arch-rivals, India U19 and Pakistan U19, both vying for championship glory.
It is worth noting that Pakistan’s journey to the final included a thrilling encounter against the Maldives, which ended in a 1-1 draw and secured their place in the semi-finals. In that match, Pakistan started strong but struggled to convert their chances in the first half. The Men in Green’s tenacity paid off as they advanced to the final.
In their opening match, Pakistan broke a 12-year-long victory drought by defeating Nepal 1-0.
India, the defending champions, are seeking to clinch their third title after their victory over Bangladesh in the 2022 final.
Here’s a look at the Pakistan squad:
Goalkeepers: Sahil Gul, Mohsin Khan, and Muhammad Abdullah
Defenders: Muhammad Sadam, Muhammad Adeel, Asad Nasir, Ans Amin, Khurshid Alam, Muhammad Raheel, Shayan Ali, Kamil Ahmad Khan, Abid Ali, Hannan Naveed, and Najeeb Ullah
Midfielders: Ali Zafar, Muhammad Azan, and Awais Khan
Forwards: Shahjahan, Muhammad Hassan, Faisal Ahmad, Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Haroon Zafar, and Muhammad Adeel Younas
Team Officials: Shadab Ifthikhar (Head Coach), Mohsan Ul Hussnain (Assistant Coach), Khurram Shahzad (Goal Keeper Coach), Aamna (Media), Muhammad Abdullah and Muhammad Samama (Physio), and Zohair Gondal (Team Manager).
As the SAFF U19 Championship final looms, fans from both sides of the border eagerly anticipate a thrilling contest that promises to be a fitting spectacle for football lovers across the region.
