Pakistan gave a spirited performance but eventually went down 1-0 to Mauritania in their FIFA Series clash at the Alassane Outtara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.
Fresh from a record 8-0 victory over Turks and Caicos in their opening match, Pakistan created several chances but a superb goal from Ramata Gengui proved to be the difference as Mauritania bounced back from an 8-0 reverse against the hosts Côte d’Ivoire.
Nadia Khan, who became Pakistan’s all-time top-scorer in the previous match, had the first chance for Adeel Rizki’s side when she shot at the goalkeeper after the ball found its way to her in the 13th minute.
Mauritania then took the lead in the 20th when Gengui volleyed a misplaced clearance from the left into the bottom corner from outside the box past Pakistan goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj.
Pakistan had another chance in the 23rd after a mixup in the defence but Mariam Mahmood could only sting the palms of the goalkeeper from close range.
Another chance came late in the first half when Kayla Siddiqi shot wide from a free kick.
Pakistan made two substitutions at half time with Karissa Jivraj and Anmol Hira coming on for Rameen Salman and Sanah Mehdi.
The changes paved the way to a flurry of chances for Aqsa Mushtaq; the best of them seeing a shot from outside the box being palmed over by Mauritania goalkeeper Aissata Fall.
At the other end, goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj superbly denied Tacko Diabira.
Pakistan continued to search for a leveller and Mariam had a chance in the 82nd but couldn’t convert.
Minutes later, Isra Khan found the side netting with a first-time volley. Kayla then found a superb through ball but Mariam couldn’t convert.
Pakistan continued to press in the eight additional minutes but the equaliser proved elusive with Aqsa testing the goalkeeper from a free-kick late on.
Coach Adeel Rizki post-match: “We started slowly. We weren’t strong in the beginning. We slowly tried to come into the game but the Mauritania players showed more desire and hunger to win the ball. We will try to work on that and also not miss out on easy chances. I think there was some element of being overconfident [after our opening victory]. Defensively we weren’t up to the mark in the first half but we were a lot better in the second, and I think that’s something we need to work on, to be more consistent throughout the game. The girls worked really hard but I think the physicality of the Mauritania players was much stronger compared to us and that’s another aspect we need to work on. We attacked many times but the ball didn’t end up in the net. Football can be like that. I think we need to analyse the game and revisit what our mistakes were and avoid them against Ivory Coast in our next match.”
In the other fixture, Ivory Coast thrashed Turks and Caicos Islands 15-1, ensuring they top their group with 6 points from 2 games with a +22 goal difference. Pakistan is currently second with 3 points and a +7 goal difference, Mauritania third with 3 points and a -7 goal difference, while Turks and Caicos Islands are fourth with 0 points and a -22 goal difference.
Pakistan will end their FIFA Series experience when they play the hosts Ivory Coast on 16 April.
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