Malaysia hold Pakistan to draw

Visitors qualify for the next round of Olympic qualifiers.

LAHORE:

Malaysia held Pakistan to a 0-0 draw in the second-leg encounter to move into the next round of the London Olympics 2012 qualifiers in Lahore.

Malaysia had won the first-leg clash between the two sides 2-0 last month. Pakistan needed to win by at least a three-goal margin to qualify for the next round, while Malaysia required either a draw or in case of defeat, a goal-difference of less than three, to movie into the next stage.

Pakistan dominated the game from the very beginning but failed to score any goals as the efforts of the hosts’ strikers went in vain. Pakistan captain Jadeed Khan came desperately close to putting one in the goal-post in the 31st minute but missed. Thereafter, despite retaining the ball possession in the second-half, the hosts failed to score. Malaysians played a defensive game throughout the match and did not allow Pakistan any leeway, as they eventually qualified for the next round.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2011.