MALDIVES: Pakistan’s senior men’s football team has ended a 35-year wait by reaching the final of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives.
The Green Shirts sealed their spot in the final on Sunday by defeating Afghanistan 2-0 in their last round-robin match, marking a historic return to a senior international final.
Goals for Pakistan came from Umar Nawaz and Haroon Hamed. With this win, Pakistan has claimed two victories out of three matches in the four-nation tournament, securing a place in the championship match.
This is Pakistan’s first appearance in an international final since the 1991 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games and the first in a standalone international tournament since the 1962 Merdeka Tournament, where Pakistan lost 1-2 to Indonesia in the final.
After a 3-0 win over the Maldives earlier in the tournament, Pakistan needed only a draw against Afghanistan to reach the final. However, coach Nolberto Solano’s side started aggressively, maintaining constant pressure on their opponents.
Pakistan took the lead in the fifth minute when Shaikh Dost delivered a brilliant cross, and Umar Nawaz scored with a single touch. The team maintained control throughout the first half, limiting Afghanistan’s chances.
In the second half, Afghanistan attempted a comeback, but Pakistan’s defense stayed solid. The Green Shirts extended their lead in injury time when Haroon Hamed broke past defenders and doubled the score with a powerful strike, sealing a historic win.
Pakistan will now face either Bangladesh or Afghanistan in the final on June 10.
