By Susil Premalal

Defending champions India made their way into the final of the SAFF Cup Football Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Pakistan in their second semi-final encounter played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh today (12).

The seven time champions will lock horns with the Maldives in the final scheduled to be worked off on Saturday at the same venue.

Just three minutes into the second half, Ashik Kuruniyan darted down the left-flank before cutting the ball back to onrushing Manvir Singh who placed the ball past Ijaz Yusuf Butt from handshaking distance (1-0).

The fate of the match was decided in the 69th minute with Manvir adding his second goal.

A demoralised Pakistan conceded the third goal in the 83rd minute when Ashik Kuruniyan used the free space in the right-flank and cut a cross for substitute Sumeet Pasi who headed home (3-0).

Pakistan’s consolation goal came in the 89th minute through a header from Sharthak Golui.

Earlier, the Maldives stormed into the final beating Nepal 3-0 in the first semi-final.