Street child team advances to Norway Cup knockouts

Pakistan beat Sykkylven IL 4-0 to maintain unbeaten run and top group B

KARACHI: Team Pakistan of 2014 Street Child World Cup fame continued their unbeaten run at the 2016 Norway Cup as they crushed local football club Sykkylven IL 4-0 in Oslo, Norway yesterday.

With the win, Pakistan topped Group B with seven points and a goal difference of +14.



In their last group match of the U16 event, the team took the lead in the 15th minute through Hammad Amjad.

Muhammad Naeem, who also won a gold medal and made a record at the Street Child Games in Rio earlier this year, doubled the lead in the 45th minute. Captain and midfielder Raziq Mushtaq then scored the third goal and Ubaid Ahmed sealed the win in the last minute.



“It’s been a great tournament so far and we’re confident,” Naeem told The Express Tribune. “We play on sand back home, but we practiced non-stop to get accustomed to the grass here.”

Pakistan scored 10 goals in their opening match, then drew 1-1 in the second and have now qualified for the round-of-64 after yesterday’s victory.

Team official Naveed Hassan Khan said’ morale is high after the team topped their group. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2016.

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