In a thrilling encounter at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U17 Championship 2024, Bhutan scored two late goals in extra time to secure a dramatic 3-3 draw against Pakistan in the sixth match of the tournament held at Changlimithang Stadium on Monday.
Bhutan took an early lead when Thinley Yezer found the net just 25 minutes into the game. Pakistan quickly responded, with Khabib Khan equalizing in the 38th minute. Subhan Kareem then put Pakistan ahead by scoring just a minute into the second half.
Despite being down, Bhutan made a strong comeback and managed to equalize. However, Pakistan regained the lead in the 67th minute with a goal from Abdul Samad. The match took another dramatic turn in extra time when Tandin Phuntsho scored a stunning goal four minutes in. Just two minutes later, Bhutan was awarded a penalty, which Sonam Dhurji successfully converted, ensuring the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan secured a 1-0 victory over Nepal in their opening game. The championship, held in Bhutan, serves as a crucial platform for South Asian nations to nurture young talent and provide valuable international exposure to emerging footballers.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) had to overcome several administrative hurdles to participate in the tournament. The PFF needed a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the government, which was finally granted on September 16. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) initially declined to issue the NOC, instructing the PFF to resubmit their application with complete documentation. The PSB notified the PFF on September 6 that their application was received after the designated timeframe and was incomplete, missing required signatures from the PFF NC Chairman.
Pakistan’s next and final group stage match is against Sri Lanka on September 25. This crucial match will determine their qualification in the tournament.
