SAFF U-15 Football: Pakistan advance into semis

The Pakistan U-15 team advanced into the semifinals of the SAFF U-15 Championship Football Tournament after securing a facile 4-0 victory over Bhutan. This is the second consecutive win for the Pakistani team in the group stage of the tournament.

Muddasar Nazar broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, giving his team lead. Three minutes later, Iftikhar Ahmed doubled the lead for his team. Continuing the onslaught, Moin Ahmed also found the back of the net in the 33rd minute of the game.

Just before the first-half whistle, Moin scraped past one past the goalkeeper again to give his team an unassailable four-goal advantage.

Bhutan, after conceding four goals in the first half, could not score any goal in the second half of the game despite upping the ante.

Earlier, Pakistan had defeated arch-rivals India 2-1 in their inaugural match held on Thursday. Pakistan have earned six points in Group 'B' while Bhutan and India are yet to log any points. India will take on Bhutan on Sunday in the last match of Group 'B'.

Bangladesh and Maldives will face each other in the second game. Maldives U-15 team, which faced a defeat at the hands of Nepal in the first game are under pressure to defeat Bangladesh to make it to the next round.

Host Nepal is taking on Bangladesh on Sunday in the last match of the Group round. Nepal beat Maldives 4-0 in the first match played on Thursday.

Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives are participating in the championship.

Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Pakistan are in Group 'A' while India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka are in Group 'B' of the championship.

The football tournament will conclude on November 3.