Bangladesh, who edged Pakistan 1-0 in the SAFF Championship semifinal on December 14, dominated the show before a 5,000-strong crowd at the Bangabandhu National Stadium but lost clues against an eight-pack defence that hardly made a mistake.

Diego Cruciani's boys will have to shrug off the hangover before their Monday's return-leg match in Karachi to reach the qualifiers.

However, the way the Argentine coach reacted after the final whistle and launched himself against Indian referee Rizwan Ul Haq, it has already cast doubts whether the Bangladesh coach would be permitted to sit on the bench during the next match.

Cruciani entered the ground after the match and argued with the referee before being calmed down by his colleagues.

"I am very, very sorry for what I have done today. It was a very bad example for a coach but I am a man under pressure," said Cruciani after the match apologising for his behaviour.

"I am unhappy about today's refereeing. There were many decisions -- offsides, fouls -- that went against us. The referee even invented two fouls in the injury time. He not only ignored the delays made by the Pakistanis during the game but also the extra time given and played was not adequate," complained Cruciani, who looked like not recovering from the team's defeat in the SAFF Championship.

"The match was a fair-play and I knew they would be planning to defend. They have achieved their target. But I still believe when we will play the next 90 minutes in Pakistan, we would win," the coach added.

Bangladesh enjoyed superior ball possession and almost went ahead from their first corner in the third minute. However, Pakistan skipper and goalkeeper Jaffar Khan held Rajani's header on an Arman corner on the line.

Pakistan, who relied on two fast strikers Essa and Imran Hossain on counter attacks, threatened to score in the 27th minute when the latter, who missed the SAFF semifinal due to suspension, sliced two defenders with a through from Farooq. But goalkeeper Aminul rushed out to block the attack six yards out of his goal.

Bangladesh, who earned half a dozen corners either side of the break, saw Alfaz create space at the right flank. But the home side wasted their best chance in the first-half injury time when Kanchan, set up by Joy on another Arman flag-kick, chose to head the ball, which was inches above the ground, wide.

Aminul was tested during Pakistan's only corner-kick of the game when he held Tanveer's header in the 50th minute and his Pakistan counterpart Jaffar was equally brilliant to foil Joy's powerful header seven minutes later. Jaffar spent nervous moments but gripped Titu's scorching drive from 40 yards and the Pakistani custodian was relieved to see Matiur Munna not taking a shot after winning possession inside the six-yard box.

"We missed a handful of chances. We played well, tried everything today but failed to score. We have once beaten them in Pakistan so I am hopeful about our away match," said captain Arif Khan Joy after the match.

"It is not easy to regroup and get up in a short time after losing a final. We've had a tiring tournament and we need time. I am not happy with the result but I am satisfied because after such a big event, they have attacked and attacked and tried hard," Cruciani said.

"I told them to watch how many men Pakistan use to defend. It is difficult to play against a team that defend with eight players," said the Argentine who will keep the same 20 players of the squad for the Pakistan trip adding that it would be Pakistan rather than Bangladesh who would be under pressure in the away match.

Both Bangladesh and Pakistan will leave Dhaka on Saturday.

Pakistan's Bahraini coach Salman Ahmed Sharida felt that his side is improving.

"We played better in the SAFF semifinal but lost. We were unlucky then. The two matches are different. Bangladesh pressed hard but we survived today. WE got chances too. These are the things that make me happy," Sharida said.

"I am not relieved because we have one more match and have to win that to qualify.

Yellow cards: Arman (Bangladesh) and Aziz (Pakistan).

TEAMS
BANGLADESH: Aminul, Hassan Al Mamun, Rajani, Sujan, Titu, Arman, Joy, Munna, Alfaz, Kanchan (Emily, 66th minute) and Farhad (Ujjal, 76th).

PAKISTAN: Jaffar, Naveed, Tanveer, Imran, Mehmood, Zahid, Farooq, Niazi, Aziz (Arif, 88th), Essa and Imran Hossain (65th).