Abu Bakar excels as Pakistan make history

2-1 win over Japan sees Colts reach final, where they face favourites Australia today

KARACHI: Promising midfielder Abu Bakar Mahmood scored a brace as Pakistan reached the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup for the first time with a 2-1 victory over Japan in Johor Bahru, Malaysia yesterday.

Led by Mohammad Dilber, the Pakistan U21 team will meet pre-tournament favourites Australia in the final today.

They will go into the game as decided underdogs, however, having lost by a whopping 8-1 scoreline against Australia in the group stages.

That defeat meant the Colts had to defeat Japan in their final group game to qualify for the final and they seemed up for it right from the get-go.

The Greenshirts got themselves a deserved early lead as Abu Bakar converted a fourth-minute penalty corner.



Seven minutes later, he doubled Pakistan’s lead from open play.

Japan were sluggish to begin with but slowly came into the game and Kyohei Ogawa’s field goal in the 21st minute meant they had enough time to draw level. However, they couldn’t find the all-important second despite being offered several presentable opportunities.

Coach Tahir Zaman was happy with the team’s first final in their fifth attempt in the tournament.

“We had never reached the podium of this event and our initial target has been achieved by qualifying for the final,” he said after the match.

Zaman felt the 8-1 thrashing will have no bearing come the final today and feels his side can perform better in the final since they go into the game as underdogs.



“The final is a different day and it will be a different match,” said Zaman. “Since we have met our initial target, there will be less pressure on my players in the final. Australia are a tough side but I want to see my players enjoy their game.”

Pakistan will have to do what no other team has managed so far if they are to claim the title — defeat an unbeaten and rampant Australian side.

Japan coach Kyoichi Nagaya said the Pakistanis were faster and his players only started following their system after going two goals down, by which time it was too late.

“It’s disappointing to miss out on the final after coming so close but I’m satisfied with how we’ve done since the start of this competition,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2016.

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