India vs Pakistan Football SAFF Championship Semi-final: India Thrash Arch-rivals Pakistan

.@StephenConstan: It was a 100% team performance. We have to thank the backroom staff for all the hard work they have done. The subs did their job, so I am very happy.#BackTheBlue #INDvPAK

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) September 12, 2018

FT: Full marks to India for securing the spot in the 12th edition of the @SAFFSuzukiCup having beaten arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in the semis.

IND 3-1 PAK#INDvPAK #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #SaffSuzukiCup

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 12, 2018

GOAL! Hassan Bashir scores for Pakistan, out of nowhere. No one saw this coming as Pakistani no.10 takes a shot from outside the box and Kaith is rooted at his spot. He might not have spotted that one. Its now 3-1!

RED CARD! Changte, who came on as a substitute is sent off for lashing out while on the ground while Mohsin Ali is also sent off for his reaction there. Pure frustration from the Pakistani and he pays the price. 

GOAL! Sumeet Passi with an immediate goal here, Kuruniyan has been absolutely brilliant for India and again he finds Passi with the curling ball. The striker is free and gets his header into the back of the net. India lead 3-0.

Manvir looks to be in some pain as he is stretchered off the field here, replaced by birthday boy Sumeet Passi. Final 10 minutes left in the game and India still lead 2-0

69' What a super-sub Chhnagte has been. He has been simply outstanding to ooutpace the defenders. The pocketsize powerhouse passes it to @vinit_vr who guides it to @mannduhra7. The striker blasts it home.

IND 2-0 PAK#INDvPAK #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #SaffSuzukiCup

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 12, 2018

GOAL! Manvir Singh seals the deal for India, Vinit Rai finds the striker who times his run well before blasting the ball into the back of the net. He is extremely delighted here and rightly so. India lead 2-0 with Manvir getting the brace!

India introducing Changte now, who comes onto replace Nikhil Pujari. Nikhil has had a good game here and the Blue Tigers will be looking to see the game off with less than 20 minutes remaining

Pressure now firmly on Pakistan as they lookto comeback into the game here, India will be happy to sitback after taking the lead. Still 1-0 to them with some time left

49' Cometh the hour, cometh the man!!! @mannduhra7 breaks the deadlock. Ashique sprints down the flank and delivers a low ball for the striker who pokes it perfectly to open the scoring.

IND 1-0 PAK#INDvPAK #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #SaffSuzukiCup

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 12, 2018

GOAL! Superb from India and its Manvir Singh who has got the opening goal here, again a brilliant run from Kuruniyan, who finds Manvir inside the box. A proper striker's finish as he gets his foot on the ball to beat the keeper. India lead 1-0 with 49 minutes gone.

Scoreline remains nil for both the team at the end of the first half.#INDvPAK #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #SaffSuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/i2NINl2FBW

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 12, 2018

So, that's half-time here and we are level at 0-0. Both teams having chances to take the lead but no one has really capitalised so far. India missing some wonderful chances and Pakistan coming closest to the goal with a header from Bashir that goes just over the bar

Hassan Bashir almost gets the goal for Pakistan, great delivery by Saddam Hussain and Bashir rises to get his head to the ball. Again though he gets too much on it and the the ball goes over the bar. Still 0-0 here as we approach half-time

Again a free kick for Pakistan in danger area, India conceding way too many free kicks in threatening areas. Again a foul on Ali as he looks to make the run from the centre.

Backpass is caught by Kaith here and its an indirect free kick from inside the box to Pakistan, that looked like an ordinary decision though. looked like it was Davinder who got his foot on the ball and Kaith picked it up. The free kick though is saved as Kaith clears the ball

30 minutes gone here and it is still 0-0, India have had their chances but still no opening goal for them. Nikhil Pujary on the right flank has been completely dominating here, India need a better delivery from him though

Butt is certainly keeping Pakistan in the game here, again a diving stop to save Kuruniyan's shot. India's corner count though keeps rising here, already upto 7!

Great run by Choudhary, beating the Pakistan defender with his blistering pace, passes unselfishly to Manvir who should have found the back of the net there, his shot though is saved well by the keeper.

Free kick in a dangerous area for India but Kuruniyan with a poor delivery there, Pakistan easily deal with the danger and it is still 0-0 here

The ground conditions look to be absolutely horrendous in Bangladesh. The box is almost devoid of any grass and the pitch looks wet as well. As far as the football is concerned, Manvir has certainly been quite lively for India but still no goal here. It is 0-0

Vinit Rai with a shot from outside the box, just looking to place the ball but keeper Butt gets a solid hand on that as India force a corner. They are piling on the pressure here. 11 minutes gone and its 0-0

End to end action early on here, Ali with a shot and Kaith gets down quickly to save on the near post. After that its India's turn as Manvir Singh almost gets the opening goal for Blue Tigers. Still 0-0 here

Great chance for Pakistan here, Bashir with a superb curling ball inside the box and Muhammad Riaz makes a good run to get a solid connection on the ball, it goes just wide of the goal here. Pakistan certainly starting well here

Nikhil with a superb run down the flank here for India but his cross is cleared by the Pakistani centre back. 5 minutes gone here and it is still 0-0

Pakistan meanwhile, come into the contest on the back of wins against Bhutan and Nepal and a defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. Pakistan have returned to international football after three troubled years, and have made it to the semi-final of the competition for the first time since 2005, with their best finish dating back to 1997 when they finished third.

Last drill before the whistle blows #INDvPAK #BackTheBlue #SaffSuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/yLCfFpfFqu

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 12, 2018

The two sides last played an official match in September 2013 in Kathmandu. India had piped Pakistan by eking out a solitary goal on that occasion. Incidentally, Pakistan have qualified for the last-four of SAFF Suzuki Cup after 13 long years and they now lock horns with the seven-time champions, India. Constantine also lauded Nepal's achievements and called them deserving entrants into the semifinals. "Nepal have played some stupendous football and they have deservingly reached the semis. Hopefully, we get a win against Pakistan and face Nepal in the final," he maintained.

Here is how India and Pakistan will line-up in the second semi-final of the #SAFFSuzukiCup. Who will come on top in this game? #INDvsPAK 🇮🇳🇵🇰
You can follow all the action here - https://t.co/KzcQOZ80Ug pic.twitter.com/n3CwLjtU6K

— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) September 12, 2018