Vientiane: Pakistan came from behind with an inspiring second-half performance to beat Sri Lanka 3-1 in their AFC of U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027™ Qualifiers Group D opener on Sunday.
Mohammad Habib’s side will next meet 2008 champions Islamic Republic of Iran on Wednesday while Sri Lanka play Jordan on the same day.Pakistan started the stronger side, with Hazrat Abbas denied twice by keeper Imadh Shareeq and an unmarked Muhammad Rafay booting over from the centre within the first 20 minutes.
Sri Lanka, however, got things right in the 25th minute when Nidarsha Mahalekamge, with an assist from Abdul Majidh Siddik, outpaced three defenders and coolly side-footed from the centre of the area past Samar Razzaq.
Mahalekamge almost added a second in the 35th minute after he went around Razzaq, but the midfielder slammed his shot into the right side netting with an empty goal awaiting.
Pakistan again took the initiative after the restart as Muhammad Essa’s close-range header two minutes in was frantically saved by Shareeq while substitute Muhammad Moosa’s effort from the edge of the box narrowly rolled past the right post.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 57th minute through Muhammad Hammad, whose acrobatic volley off a corner in a crowded goalmouth gave the lunging Sri Lanka keeper little chance.
Moosa made amends for his earlier miss after Nadeem Hussain picked up the ball in his own half in the 68th minute, ran down the left and squared to the unmarked striker, who drove the ball through Shareeq’s legs.
They added a third in the 71st minute when Abbas connected to a lofted cross by Essa on the left and powered his header into the top left corner of the net to seal an emphatic win.
Published in the-afc.com, 8 November 2026
