Pakistan Women’s football team secured a well-earned point against Bangladesh in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024. The Shaheens took the lead courtesy of Zahmena Malik’s first-half strike. Nisha Ashraf’s goalkeeping heroics went in vain, as the defending champions managed to equalize in the 90th minute of the game.
Bangladesh 1-1 Pakistan – as it happened
The opening stage of the game was evenly matched with both the teams trying their best to get a foothold in the game. But as the game progressed Bangladesh started to assert their dominance being the superior side in the FIFA Women’s Ranking.
The game’s first real opening came in the 19th minute when Ritu found Shamsunnahar inside the box. The 21-year-old opened her body and tried to curl the ball towards the far corner, but she slipped at the vital moment. Hence, she could not guide her shot on target.
Pakistan Women’s football team almost took a surprise lead when Suha Irani tried her luck from long range. In the 25th minute of the game, Suha attempted a lobed shot from close to the center circle. The Bangladesh goalkeeper was way off her goal line and had to struggle to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net.
For the majority of the first half, the Shaheens had to do plenty of defending. And they were looking to hit the opposition on the counterattack whenever they won the ball back. Eventually, this tactic brought them success when they managed to score the first goal of the match in the 31st minute.
Rameen played a brilliant lobed pass for Zahmena Malik, which was initially won by the Bangladeshi defender. But Zahmena continued her run and managed to steal the ball from her opponent. Having won the ball, she simply poked it past the rushing Bangladesh keeper and found the back of the net.
A few minutes later, the Bengal tigresses almost leveled the score. When a curling shot, from outside the box, by Ritu hit the crossbar.
Second Half – as it happened
Having taken the lead in the first half, the Shaheens started playing with a bit more confidence in the second half. They looked a bit more confident on the ball, their passing was crisp, and the forwards and midfielders were pressing the ball well.
But whenever Bangladesh had the ball, they looked quite threatening. However, the Pakistan Women’s football team’s goalkeeper, Nisha Ashraf, was always up to the task and denied the opposition from scoring.
She was kept busy in the second half as she had to make many saves. Her most prominent save of the game came in the 72nd minute. Monika unleashed a vicious shot from outside the box. The ball was dipping in as it moved towards the goal and Nisha had to dive awkwardly forward to prevent it from going in.
The Shaheens had a glorious chance to double their lead in the 77th minute. Zahmena Malik found Amna Hanif with a brilliantly weighted through ball. Amna had acres of space for herself, but her first touch let her down. She took a heavy touch that allowed the Bangladesh goalkeeper to block her shot.
With the clock hitting the 90th-minute mark, it seemed like the Pakistan Women’s football team was on course for a historic win. But the defending champions had other ideas as they leveled the score during the dying stages of the game.
Ritu showed a brilliant bit of trickery to get past her marker and delivered a vicious cross into the box from the left flank. Shamsunnahar stuck the ball with her head to level the scoring for her side.
Is the Pakistan Women’s Football team eliminated from the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024?
Pakistan Women’s football team sits at the bottom of Group A in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024. Having lost their opening game against arch-rivals, India, the Shaheens have one point from two games.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh is in the second spot with one point from one game, and India is top of the table with three points.
Despite being last, the women in green still have a slight chance of making it to the semifinals. For that to happen they need a huge favor from the India Women’s football team.
They need to defeat the Bangladesh Women’s football team by 3 or more goals in the next game. If the Bengal Tigresses manage to win or draw the game, then Pakistan’s journey in this year’s competition will be over.
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