KARACHI: Pakistan Under-22 football team won their second consecutive practice match on their tour of Thailand when they crushed Osotspa Saraburi, a Premier League club, 4-1 in Bangkok on Monday.
“The team played a good game and I am happy with the boys’ effort,” Pakistan’s coach Zavisa Milosavljevic told ‘The News’ from Bangkok on Monday. “The players have made a remarkable improvement in the defence and finishing. Although we failed to avail ourselves of most of the chances due to aggressive display and quick finishing but overall I am satisfied with the team’s performance,” the Serbian said.
“All the players are fit and the team is in high rhythm and hopefully the tour will help us build a strong unit for the Asian Cup Qualifiers,” the coach said.
After getting 0-1 down, Pakistan fought back strongly and scored four goals in a row through Mohammad bin Younis, Kaleemullah, France-based Malik Mohammad Human and Zakir Lashari.
The opponents had also got a penalty but keeper Saqib Hanif made a diving save, a team official said.
Saqib has emerged as a bright future prospect as he had also saved five goals in Pakistan’s previous match against Bangkok Glass which the Greenshirts won 1-0. Pakistan will play their last match of the tour on Wednesday (tomorrow) before returning home on Thursday.
In the first match, Pakistan were beaten by Thai Premier League’s strong club Army United FC 3-0.
After the tour, the same team is expected to tour Palestine to feature in an international tournament at the end of next month before appearing in the Asian Cup Qualifiers from June 23 to July 3 at a venue yet to be decided.