Abdul Samad scored five minutes from the end of normal time as Pakistan beat Bangladesh 1-0 in the semi-finals of the SAFF Championship at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday.
Pakistan reached the SAFF Championship final for the first time and will face India on Tuesday. India beat Bhutan 2-1 in the first semi-final earlier in the day.
The defeat ended Bangladesh's bid for their first final appearance since 2005, when they beat Pakistan in the semi-finals in Karachi.
In the 85th minute, Bangladesh goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon's throw after receiving the ball in his box landed at the feet of Samad, who rifled it into the net with his left foot, silencing the home crowd.
Srabon had had a good game up until then. He dived to make a two-handed save in the second minute, after a misplaced pass from Shamit Shome started a Pakistan attack.
He made another diving save from a free-kick after Hamza Choudhury fouled just outside the box late in the second half.
Both sides hit the post in a goalless first half. Rakib Hossain's powerful shot, set up by a Shome header, was saved by the Pakistan goalkeeper but slipped from his hands onto the post.
Samad also hit the post after the cooling break around the 30th minute. He found space when defender Tariq Kazi lost his marker.
Bangladesh often moved the ball forward but struggled to break down Pakistan's physical defence near the box.
Early in the second half, Rakib's shot was blocked by a defender, and Pakistan's Abdullah reached a cutback just before Shome could. Farhan Ali's shot went just past the post, though he had been offside.
Coach Thomas Dooley brought on striker Mohammad Ibrahim for Suki Itosofa after the hour mark, and Bishwanath Ghosh came on at right-back for Rahmat Mia.
Bangladesh made two changes from the side that beat Sri Lanka 4-0 to top Group A. Rahmat replaced defender Saad Uddin, who was ruled out of the tournament with the ankle injury he suffered in that match. Suki started up front in place of Ibrahim.
Before the match, Dooley told broadcasters that the team had learned a lot from a disappointing ASEAN Cup campaign in Indonesia and that he had seen good spirit in the squad. He also expressed regret at losing Saad to injury.
Pakistan coach Nolberto Solano had said he expected a very tough test and that his side had prepared well.