Dejected, winless and looking for consolation
Pakistan take on Chinese Taipei today looking to give it their best shot.
KARACHI:
Pakistan take on Chinese Taipei today looking to give it their best shot and earn a consolation victory in their final group match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifiers.
Pakistan failed to reach the final qualifying round of the event following back-to-back defeats: outclassed 3-0 by Turkmenistan and a 3-1 loss against arch-rivals India. However, after failing in the tournament, Pakistan ranked 171 are now looking for a better show against a side ranked 147 in the world.
“We’re confident of a good performance against Chinese Taipei,” Pakistan coach Tariq Lutfi told The Express Tribune. “The team will give its best in the match despite the fact that we’re out of the competition. A win will allow us to end our campaign on a positive note.”
The coach, also a former captain, felt his team would have to overcome many shortcomings if they want to end the competition on a winning note.
“We played strong opponents but the results could’ve been different had we taken the opportunities that came our way,” said Lutfi, referring to the match against India which Pakistan lost after taking a 1-0 lead. “It’s not about the lead but the way we missed our goal scoring chances was disappointing. We need to convert half-chances and that is how teams progress at this level.”
He opined that the players were also short of temperament that is needed while playing at this level.
“The performance of the players was not consistent even for a single match. They start well but their level drops in the final stages of the match. This weakness cost us dearly especially in the match against India. Despite all the hard work we’ve done with the team, they’re showing little progress which is concerning as we bid to make our status in international football.”
The teams have met on three occasions in the past with both sides winning one each. Pakistan’s opponents have also lost both their matches in the event and given the statistics, both teams enter the field on level terms.
“The past results matter less and it is the performance of the day which counts in football matches. They are a better side on paper and we cannot expect any leniency because they also need the win badly.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2011.
Pakistan take on Chinese Taipei today looking to give it their best shot and earn a consolation victory in their final group match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifiers.
Pakistan failed to reach the final qualifying round of the event following back-to-back defeats: outclassed 3-0 by Turkmenistan and a 3-1 loss against arch-rivals India. However, after failing in the tournament, Pakistan ranked 171 are now looking for a better show against a side ranked 147 in the world.
“We’re confident of a good performance against Chinese Taipei,” Pakistan coach Tariq Lutfi told The Express Tribune. “The team will give its best in the match despite the fact that we’re out of the competition. A win will allow us to end our campaign on a positive note.”
The coach, also a former captain, felt his team would have to overcome many shortcomings if they want to end the competition on a winning note.
“We played strong opponents but the results could’ve been different had we taken the opportunities that came our way,” said Lutfi, referring to the match against India which Pakistan lost after taking a 1-0 lead. “It’s not about the lead but the way we missed our goal scoring chances was disappointing. We need to convert half-chances and that is how teams progress at this level.”
He opined that the players were also short of temperament that is needed while playing at this level.
“The performance of the players was not consistent even for a single match. They start well but their level drops in the final stages of the match. This weakness cost us dearly especially in the match against India. Despite all the hard work we’ve done with the team, they’re showing little progress which is concerning as we bid to make our status in international football.”
The teams have met on three occasions in the past with both sides winning one each. Pakistan’s opponents have also lost both their matches in the event and given the statistics, both teams enter the field on level terms.
“The past results matter less and it is the performance of the day which counts in football matches. They are a better side on paper and we cannot expect any leniency because they also need the win badly.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2011.