By Alam Zeb Safi
MALE, Maldives: Early and late goals from Umar Nawaz and Harun Hamid propelled Pakistan into the final of Diamond Jubilee International Football tournament with a 2-0 victory over Afghanistan in Male on Sunday.
The win secured top spot for coach Nolberto Solano’s side in the round-robin stage of the four-nation event.
Pakistan, four-time South Asian Games gold medallists, had not reached the final of a standalone tournament since the 1962 Merdeka Cup, where they finished runners-up to Indonesia. Their last tournament victory was in 1952 when they shared the Asian quadrangular football tournament title with India (the stats come from PFF).
Coming off a 3-0 win against host nation Maldives, which snapped a 961-day winless streak, Pakistan required only a draw to progress but claimed all three points starting with Nawaz’s fifth-minute strike. Forward Shayek Dost delivered a low cross from the left flank, allowing Nawaz to slot a first-time, side-footed shot past the Afghan goal-keeper.
Afghanistan, managed by former Pakistan coach Jose Antonio Nogueira, struggled to break down Solano’s disciplined side. Pakistan threatened to double their lead after the half-hour mark when Otis Khan set up defender Easah Suliman, who fired over the crossbar from distance. Afghanistan’s best chance of the first half arrived in stoppage time when captain Omid Popalzay hit the woodwork with a free-kick.
Needing a victory to guarantee their own spot in the final, Afghanistan pressed forward after the interval. However, Pakistan missed a clear opportunity to extend their lead on the hour mark when Dost’s pass put midfielder Ali Agha through on goal, only for him to shoot wide. Afghanistan responded with a chance of their own, but Omid Mosawi directed his header wide of the target. Pakistan sealed the victory in the first minute of stoppage time. Midfielder Adil Nabi turned provider, slipping a pass to Hamid, who struck a powerful drive into the net. Pakistan will face either Afghanistan or Bangladesh in the tournament’s final on June 10.
