![Missed penalty denies Pakistan victory in thrilling Asia Cup qualifier [The News]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Pakistan-2027-AFC-Asian-Cup-qualifiers.jpg "Missed penalty denies Pakistan victory in thrilling Asia Cup qualifier [The News]")
by Abdul Mohi Shah
ISLAMABAD: A heart-stopping moment at the Jinnah Stadium on Thursday saw Pakistan’s Otis Khan sky a crucial 67th-minute penalty, missing a golden opportunity to seal victory as the Pakistan-Afghanistan Asia Cup Qualifying Round match ended in a tense goalless draw.
Under clear sunshine and in front of a lively crowd, Pakistan showed two contrasting faces, a sluggish and disjointed first half followed by a spirited, dominant second-half display that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats.
The Greenshirts, rejuvenated after the break, pressed hard for the opener and created a flurry of scoring chances. The best of them came when Afghanistan’s defender recklessly brought down Fraz Ahmad inside the box, earning Pakistan a penalty. As the crowd erupted in anticipation, Otis Khan, the England-born star and one of Pakistan’s most trusted finishers, stepped up — only to send the ball sailing high over the crossbar, leaving the home supporters stunned.
“Anyone can miss a penalty, even the greatest players in football history have done so at crucial moments,” Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano said after the match. “Otis was our best choice for the spot-kick. He had practiced it repeatedly in training yesterday. But football can be cruel, sometimes you miss what you’re sure you’ll make.”
Despite the setback, Pakistan continued to push forward. The ever-threatening Fraz Ahmad came close again in the 84th minute when he found himself one-on-one with Afghan goalkeeper Ovays Azizi, whose acrobatic save denied Pakistan what could have been a match-winning goal.
Afghanistan, who looked the sharper side early on, regained their rhythm late in the match. Their striker Fareed Sadat narrowly missed from close range after a slick move down the left flank, reminding Pakistan that the contest was still finely balanced until the final whistle.
Afghanistan’s Italian coach Vicenzo Annese credited Pakistan for their fightback. “We started well and could have scored in the first half,” he said. “But things changed drastically in the second. Pakistan introduced three experienced players who completely shifted the momentum. They surprised us with their attacking intent after halftime.”
Annese also lamented his team’s travel ordeal, with Afghanistan arriving in Islamabad only hours before kickoff due to visa and logistics complications. “You can’t expect players to perform at their best after such a chaotic buildup. The last two days of uncertainty badly affected our mental and physical readiness,” he admitted.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Sharif echoed similar sentiments. “We didn’t sleep properly before taking the field,” he said with a weary smile. “But we’ll regroup and come stronger in the return leg in Kuwait on Tuesday. That’s where we’ll be at our best.”
For Pakistan, Solano admitted his side was far from perfect in the opening 45 minutes. “In the first half, we looked disconnected — much like Afghanistan, we faced our own issues with late player arrivals and lack of match rhythm,” he said. “Now that the squad is complete, we’ll have time to find the right balance and field a more cohesive unit in the next game.”
Published in The News, 10 October 2025
Football coach happy with team’s performance
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan football team head coach Nolberto Solano expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance following the home leg of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifier against Afghanistan, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
“I’m really pleased with the team, with all the boys. With all the small issues we had, especially with some players arriving a little late, it’s not easy. But I was very pleased with their attitude today, especially when the players came on in the second half,” Solano said.
“I believe we dominated the match for most of the game and were an excellent team. Like the players, I’m disappointed that we couldn’t take all three points, not just because of the missed penalty, but also because we had other chances. Honestly, these guys are doing their best, and I’m proud of them.
“It’s not easy for these guys to travel 15, 19, or even 20 hours to arrive in Pakistan a day before the match. They didn’t have much time to train together, but I had confidence in them.” Responding to a question, Solano said, “We’ll prepare in the same way. We need to check how the boys are physically and mentally after travelling from different parts of the world. I was very impressed with most of them, especially as it was my first time seeing some of them play. We’ll build on this performance for the next match on Tuesday.”