Pakistan’s Ali Agha (proper) vies for ball’s possession throughout their Diamond Jubilee Worldwide Soccer Event match in opposition to Maldives on the Nationwide Soccer Stadium in Male on June 4, 2026. — Soccer Affiliation of Maldives
KARACHI: Pakistan’s males’s soccer crew ended a 961-day anticipate a global soccer victory with a convincing 3-0 win over hosts Maldives within the Diamond Jubilee 4-Nation Soccer Event on Thursday.
After opening the event with a goalless draw in opposition to Bangladesh, Pakistan entered the match below stress to safe a optimistic outcome to maintain its hopes of reaching the ultimate alive. The breakthrough ultimately got here within the second half after each side failed to attain earlier than the interval.
Younger Umar Nawaz put Pakistan forward within the 54th minute, scoring his first worldwide objective in solely his second look for the nationwide crew. The match additionally marked his first begin for Pakistan.
Nawaz’s journey to the nationwide crew has been formed by private tragedy. His brother, Haris Nawaz, was among the many martyrs of the 2014 Military Public College assault in Peshawar, whereas one other brother, Ahmed Nawaz, was critically injured. The household later moved to the UK in 2015, the place Umar started his soccer journey earlier than ultimately incomes a spot in Pakistan’s nationwide setup.
Pakistan doubled its benefit within the 84th minute when Abdul Samad Arshad discovered the web. Simply three minutes later, Harun Hamid added a 3rd objective to seal the victory for the guests.
The outcome marked Pakistan’s first worldwide win over the Maldives since 1991 and introduced an finish to the crew’s prolonged winless run. Pakistan’s earlier victory had come in opposition to Cambodia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier on Oct. 17, 2023.
The win strengthened Pakistan’s possibilities of reaching the event closing. The crew will conclude its league-stage marketing campaign in opposition to Afghanistan on June 7. If Pakistan stays among the many prime two groups within the standings, it’s going to advance to the ultimate scheduled for June 10.
Pakistan now has 4 factors from two matches after drawing with Bangladesh and defeating the Maldives, inserting itself firmly in rivalry for a spot within the championship match.
