Street Child World Cup: Spirited Pakistan edge US to claim third spot
Pakistan beat US 3-2 on penalties.
File photo of the team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil PHOTO: AFP/FILE
RIO DE JANEIRO:
Team Pakistan defeated the US 3-2 on penalty-kicks to clinch the bronze medal at the Street Child World Cup 2014 in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
Pakistan gave another stellar performance in the competition as they scored first against the US, although the first-half ended with a 1-1 scoreline, Pakistan took the lead in the second half as well, which the US equalised again.
At the end of fulltime both teams were 2-2. Extra-time was awarded but both sides were unable to score, forcing the game into penalties.
Pakistan won the match on penalty-kicks, which goal-keeper and captain Sameer Ahmed proved to be a wall for the opponents.
The teenager blocked at least two attempts by the US strikers in full-time, while he stopped one penalty-kick during the shoot-out.
“Its alright if we didn’t qualify for the finals, it was God’s will,” said the Azad Foundation official Itfan Maqbool. “This bronze medal is also an achievement. God must have a better plan for us; it’s alright if we didn’t play in the final. This is also a victory for us.”
Talking about the players Maqbool said that the team is supporting Tanzania over Burundi for the final.
“We lost to Burundi of course, but of we look at ht e game, Tanzania are better,” said Maqbool.
Earlier on Saturday, Burundi beat Pakistan in a closely fought semi-final on Saturday after a tough battle between the two teams.
Team Pakistan defeated the US 3-2 on penalty-kicks to clinch the bronze medal at the Street Child World Cup 2014 in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
Pakistan gave another stellar performance in the competition as they scored first against the US, although the first-half ended with a 1-1 scoreline, Pakistan took the lead in the second half as well, which the US equalised again.
At the end of fulltime both teams were 2-2. Extra-time was awarded but both sides were unable to score, forcing the game into penalties.
Pakistan won the match on penalty-kicks, which goal-keeper and captain Sameer Ahmed proved to be a wall for the opponents.
The teenager blocked at least two attempts by the US strikers in full-time, while he stopped one penalty-kick during the shoot-out.
“Its alright if we didn’t qualify for the finals, it was God’s will,” said the Azad Foundation official Itfan Maqbool. “This bronze medal is also an achievement. God must have a better plan for us; it’s alright if we didn’t play in the final. This is also a victory for us.”
Talking about the players Maqbool said that the team is supporting Tanzania over Burundi for the final.
“We lost to Burundi of course, but of we look at ht e game, Tanzania are better,” said Maqbool.
Earlier on Saturday, Burundi beat Pakistan in a closely fought semi-final on Saturday after a tough battle between the two teams.