Pakistan thrash Bangladesh to arrange South Korea semi-final conflict in Asian Champions Trophy

Pakistan went into their final round-robin sport figuring out {that a} two-goal victory would see them leapfrog third-placed Japan, who have been hammered 6-0 by India earlier within the day.

However doubles Aijaz Ahmed and Ahmed Nadeem and objectives apiece by Afraz and Mohammad Razzaq noticed them clinch a four-goal victory with Bangladesh getting each their objectives by way of Arshad Hosein.

Pakistan edged Japan on purpose distinction after each completed degree on 5 factors, one level behind second-placed South Korea whereas India topped the standings with 10 factors.

Bangladesh went into the sport having misplaced their first three matches and knew they needed to upset Pakistan with a purpose to make the semi-finals.

Arshad gave them a shock Thirteenth-minute lead just for Ahmed to degree issues within the very subsequent minute.

It was the beginning of Pakistan’s purpose rush which noticed them rating an additional 4 objectives within the subsequent 20 minutes.

Aijaz made it 2-1 within the 18th earlier than Afraz acquired his purpose within the twenty fourth. Ahmed acquired his second purpose two minutes later with Razzaq making it 4-1 within the thirty fourth.

Arshad pulled one again for Bangladesh within the thirty fourth however Aijaz sealed victory for his facet 4 minutes later.

Earlier, Harmanpreet Singh transformed a penalty nook to present India a tenth minute lead in opposition to Japan and Dilpreet Singh made it 2-0 within the twenty third.

Jarmanpreet Singh added the third within the thirty fourth earlier than objectives by Sumit, Harmanpreet and Shamsher Singh within the house of seven minutes accomplished a convincing victory for India.

Japan have work to do if they’re to keep away from one other hammering by India once they meet the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallists within the semi-final on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s match with South Korea on the identical day is anticipated to be a a lot evenly-contested one after they performed a 3-3 draw in opposition to one another on Saturday.