Football: Pakistan stay afloat with a 3-1 win
Beat Afghanistan in AFC Championship qualifiers.
KARACHI:
Pakistan kept their hopes alive at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship qualifiers after a 3-1 win over Afghanistan.
After suffering losses against hosts Kuwait and the UAE, Pakistan shocked the favourites with Muhammad Bilal opening the scoring in the first half.
Afghanistan, however, levelled in the 55th minute before Mansoor Khan hit a brace, with goals in the 74th and 84th minute, to seal the win for Pakistan.
Pakistan, who won their opening match against Maldives , face Yemen tomorrow, an encounter that will decide their fate in the tournament. According to coach Sajjad Mehmood, Pakistan stand a good chance at qualifying for the AFC Under-16 Championship, where 16 teams battle it out for the title next year.
“We hit back after two successive losses,” Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “Now defeating Yemen doesn’t seem like a tough job. We gave our best against Afghanistan and I am glad that my players learnt from their mistakes.”
Pakistan are fourth in the table and face a must-win situation against second-placed Yemen. UAE top the six-team pool while Kuwait are in third position with Afghanistan and Maldives making up the last two spots.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2011.
Pakistan kept their hopes alive at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship qualifiers after a 3-1 win over Afghanistan.
After suffering losses against hosts Kuwait and the UAE, Pakistan shocked the favourites with Muhammad Bilal opening the scoring in the first half.
Afghanistan, however, levelled in the 55th minute before Mansoor Khan hit a brace, with goals in the 74th and 84th minute, to seal the win for Pakistan.
Pakistan, who won their opening match against Maldives , face Yemen tomorrow, an encounter that will decide their fate in the tournament. According to coach Sajjad Mehmood, Pakistan stand a good chance at qualifying for the AFC Under-16 Championship, where 16 teams battle it out for the title next year.
“We hit back after two successive losses,” Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “Now defeating Yemen doesn’t seem like a tough job. We gave our best against Afghanistan and I am glad that my players learnt from their mistakes.”
Pakistan are fourth in the table and face a must-win situation against second-placed Yemen. UAE top the six-team pool while Kuwait are in third position with Afghanistan and Maldives making up the last two spots.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2011.