Phnom Penh: Iraq breezed 8-1 past Pakistan in their AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers Group G opener on Wednesday. Cambodia and Oman, meanwhile, settled for a goalless stalemate in the later match.
Iraq dominated proceedings but only took the lead in the 32nd minute through Amoori Faisal, who converted from the penalty spot. Pakistan were down to 10-men after defender Mohibullah Afridi was sent off for a second yellow card when conceding that penalty.
The 2013 AFC U23 champions maintained their momentum with Ali Jasim stealing the show with a hat-trick – netting in the 47th, 66th and 72nd minutes – with his run briefly interrupted by McKeal Abdullah for Pakistan in the 61st minute with a well taken penalty.
Pakistan had to play the last 30 minutes of the game with 9-men after captain Haseeb Khan got badly injured when he tried to stop Iraq’s third goal in vain and had to be taken off. By then, all of Pakistan’s substitution slots had already been used and the team had an even worse numerical disadvantage.
Pakistan’s woes were fully exploited by Iraq. Ahmed Ayyed Al-Aridhee then found the back of the net in the 78th minute for Iraq, who increased their intensity with a flurry of goals from Dhulfiqar Younnus Al-Imari (83rd), Ali Sadeq Shaheen (85th) and Ahmed Ayyed Al-Aridhee (90+4) to secure the victory.
Pakistan now face Group G hosts Cambodia on 6 September in Phnom Penh’s National Sports Complex with a 5pm PKT kickoff. Iraq will face Oman in an earlier fixture that day.
Info also taken from the-afc.com