Male’, MALDIVES – Maldives won the second international friendly match against Pakistan by 3-0 after a stylish Tiki-taka style performance. Mohamed Umair scored in the 49th minute and skipper Ali Ashfaq scored in the 67th and 90th minute for the islanders.
In the 4th minute Maldives created a good chance to score. Ali Ashfaq beat his marker and gave a good ball to Thariq but when he passed the ball to Fasir, he was caught offside.
Assad Abdul Ghani retires from National team in the 9th minute of game.
In the 10th minute of the game Pakistan missed a good chance to score from a free kick. Hassan Bashir’s free kick hits the cross bar.
Three minutes later Ahmed Thariq, who scored 16 goals from 37 games also retired from National team.
In the 27th minute Shifan sent a good header inside the box from Umair’s corner but it went wide.
Ten minutes later Mohamed Arif made a stunning shot and hits the woodwork.
In the 49th minute Ali Fasir made a good shot just out side the box but keeper cleared it for a corner kick.
In the 59th minute Mohamed Umari broke the deadlock from a stunning shot outside the box. Pakistani keeper Jaffar Khan surely did not expect the thunderous shot.
Ashfaq doubled the lead for Maldives in the 67th minute from a superb volley. Ahmed Rasheed supplied a good ball into the box and he managed to score from that.
In the 79th minute Ashfaq sent another good shot on target but it went wide.
In the 83rd minute Pakistan’s Hassan Bashir made a good shot inside the box but his poor effort went over the bar.
Ashfaq scored the third goal in the 90th minute after a good solo effort. He beat the keeper and two defenders to find the back of the net.
by Shimaz Ali [Maldivesoccer.Com]
Pakistan ended their gruelling friendly tours of Nepal and Maldives with 2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss for AFC Challenge Cup qualification preps. An injury hit Pakistan team, missing the likes of Muhammad Ahmed, Yasir Afridi, and Shabir Khan, was hammered by the slick passing of Maldives.