Football: Pakistan U22 finally taste a win

Beat Thai Osapspa Football Club 4-1 in 3rd match of the tour.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s under-22 football team won their first match on the tour of Thailand when they crushed Thai Osapspa Football Club 4-1 in Bangkok yesterday.

Although Pakistan fell behind in the 16th minute, Mohammad Khan’s 34th-minute equaliser and a goal from Kaleemullah four minutes later helped the tourists take the lead. Pakistan’s domination continued in the second half with Zakir Lashari (66th minute) and Mohammad Hamam (68th minute) sealing the well-deserved win after losses against a local club and the hosts’ under-22 side.

“It’s a good feeling that we’ve won a match on the tour,” Pakistan’s assistant coach Nasir Ismail told The Express Tribune. “We would’ve loved to play against their national side too.”

According to a Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) official, Thailand’s football federation refused to have their national side play against the tourists due to its training sessions for an AFC event.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2012.