2018 FIFA World Cup: Yemen, Pakistan to play must-win encounter
The two sides will play the second-leg of their preliminary qualify in Bahrain
Pakistan had been scheduled to host the match on March 17 at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore, but due to security concerns following the church blasts, FIFA had to shift the tie to a neutral venue. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
After reshuffling the venue and the date of the preliminary qualifier’s second-leg for the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Pakistan and Yemen, the two sides will finally collide at the Al Khalifa Stadium in Manama, Bahrain on Monday.
Pakistan had been scheduled to host the match on March 17 at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore, but due to security concerns following the church blasts, FIFA had to shift the tie to a neutral venue.
So far, Yemen has the edge having won the first-leg 3-1 on March 12 in Doha. In order to fight the odds and qualify for the next round, the men in green will have to win with a margin of at least two goals.
However, the hopes are high and Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi believes the team still has a chance to make it. “My personal expectations are that the players should be able to pull off a 2-0 victory,” he told The Express Tribune. “If this match was happening in Lahore it would’ve been different, but we aren’t losing any hope. We are well-prepared.”
Lodhi added that coach Mohammed Shamlan is also confident regarding the team’s preparations for the must-win encounter.
Pakistan take up the 170th spot in this month’s latest FIFA rankings while Yemen are on 175.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier began in Asia with the 12 lowest teams. India cruised to the next round after defeating Nepal 2-0 on aggregate. East Timor defeated Mongolia 5-1, Cambodia won against Macau 4-1, Chinese Taipei edged past Brunei 2-1 and Bhutan overcame Sri Lanka 3-1 on aggregate.
The six teams, including winners of the match between Yemen and Pakistan, will join the top 34 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) sides to round-robin matches in eight groups on home-and-away basis.
The eight group winners and four best runners-up will progress to the third round and also qualify for the main draw of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
After reshuffling the venue and the date of the preliminary qualifier’s second-leg for the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Pakistan and Yemen, the two sides will finally collide at the Al Khalifa Stadium in Manama, Bahrain on Monday.
Pakistan had been scheduled to host the match on March 17 at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore, but due to security concerns following the church blasts, FIFA had to shift the tie to a neutral venue.
So far, Yemen has the edge having won the first-leg 3-1 on March 12 in Doha. In order to fight the odds and qualify for the next round, the men in green will have to win with a margin of at least two goals.
However, the hopes are high and Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi believes the team still has a chance to make it. “My personal expectations are that the players should be able to pull off a 2-0 victory,” he told The Express Tribune. “If this match was happening in Lahore it would’ve been different, but we aren’t losing any hope. We are well-prepared.”
Lodhi added that coach Mohammed Shamlan is also confident regarding the team’s preparations for the must-win encounter.
Pakistan take up the 170th spot in this month’s latest FIFA rankings while Yemen are on 175.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier began in Asia with the 12 lowest teams. India cruised to the next round after defeating Nepal 2-0 on aggregate. East Timor defeated Mongolia 5-1, Cambodia won against Macau 4-1, Chinese Taipei edged past Brunei 2-1 and Bhutan overcame Sri Lanka 3-1 on aggregate.
The six teams, including winners of the match between Yemen and Pakistan, will join the top 34 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) sides to round-robin matches in eight groups on home-and-away basis.
The eight group winners and four best runners-up will progress to the third round and also qualify for the main draw of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.