National football team up against hosts Nepal
Pakistan look for crucial win in SAFF championship.
“Our match against Nepal will be very important, we need to win it in order to survive in the championship,” Anwar told The Express Tribune. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI:
Pakistan are set to face hosts Nepal in their second Group A match in the South Asian Football Federation (Saff) Championship at Kathmandu.
The national team lost its opening match to defending champions India 1-0, courtesy captain Samar Ishaq, who scored an own-goal against the arch-rivals on Sunday.
National coach Shehzad Anwar, who had declared the team’s performance satisfactory despite the loss, hoped the players would showcase the same intensity against Nepal.
“Our match against Nepal will be very important, we need to win it in order to survive in the championship,” Anwar told The Express Tribune.
A head-to-head record in the last five years favours Pakistan as they have won three of the six encounters against Nepal since 2008 and drew one. They need at least two wins in their group matches to qualify for the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan defeated Bhutan in Group B.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.
Pakistan are set to face hosts Nepal in their second Group A match in the South Asian Football Federation (Saff) Championship at Kathmandu.
The national team lost its opening match to defending champions India 1-0, courtesy captain Samar Ishaq, who scored an own-goal against the arch-rivals on Sunday.
National coach Shehzad Anwar, who had declared the team’s performance satisfactory despite the loss, hoped the players would showcase the same intensity against Nepal.
“Our match against Nepal will be very important, we need to win it in order to survive in the championship,” Anwar told The Express Tribune.
A head-to-head record in the last five years favours Pakistan as they have won three of the six encounters against Nepal since 2008 and drew one. They need at least two wins in their group matches to qualify for the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan defeated Bhutan in Group B.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.