VIENTIANE: Pakistan showed superb attacking verve and technique in a 3-0 victory over hosts Laos in their Group ‘D’ AFC Under-17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifier with Muhammad Essa scoring twice and Hazrat Abbas getting the other at the Laos National Stadium on Saturday.
The superb victory for Mohammad Habib’s side means Pakistan now have two victories from three matches so far after their opening 3-1 victory over Sri Lanka was followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to Iran. They play Jordan in their last match on Nov 20.
After an end-to-end opening 10 minutes against Laos, Pakistan opened the the scoring in the 14th minute when Essa rose highest to head in after Hasnain Ali’s tenacity on the left had won a free kick.
At the other end, goalkeeper Samar Razzaq was alert to deny a one-on-one chance before Muhammad Hammad made a superb last-ditch intervention.
The unrelenting pace continued with Muhammad Moosa shooting narrowly wide from distance while Essa had a shot saved on the line.
Abbas made it 2-0 in the 29th with a bullet header from a cross on the left and Pakistan continued to pour forward with
Essa making it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time; slotting in first time after a superb cross by captain Abdul Samad.
Laos tried to hit back in the second half but Pakistan stood tall.
Samar made another superb one-on-one save at the start of the second half and then dived to his right to make another sensational stop. His defenders were also putting in a shift, Hammad making a superb interception on the line.
At the other end, substitute Haris Khan made a superb run down the right but fellow substitute Khalilullah’s shot was saved. Pakistan made several attacks late on but Laos held on.
