Pakistan women sail into football semis

Women football team cruises into semifinals of SAFF championship with 3-0 drubbing of Afghanistan.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s women team cruised into the semifinals of the SAFF Women’s Football Championship courtesy a 3-0 drubbing of Afghanistan, their second successive win in the event underway in Bangladesh.

Pakistan, that registered its first-ever international win when they beat Maldives in their opening match, put up an even better display against Afghanistan. Midfielder Malaika Noor provided the lead in the 21st minute after which Pakistan’s attacking strategy paid dividend when another midfielder Shlyla Baloch tore through the Afghanistan defence to double the lead in the 40th minute.

Despite a dull start to the second half, striker Mejzgaan Orakzai put the result beyond doubt and sealed the team’s progress to the last-four where they will take either the hosts or India, depending on the outcome of other group matches.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2010.