Pakistan defeated Afghanistan 2-0 in the final of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament at the Malé National Football Stadium on Wednesday to claim the title.
The victory meant Pakistan won its first senior men’s international final since the 1991 South Asian Games, where it defeated the Maldives 2-0.
Furthermore, the glory of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament marked Pakistan’s first independent title since sharing the Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament crown with India in 1952, which was played in the round-robin format.
The Green Shirts made a lively start to the showpiece clash as they dominated possession and were finally rewarded in the 24th minute when striker Dost scored a sensational goal via a bicycle kick after midfielder Otis Khan missed a shot just inside the box, which he delivered perfectly for the striker.
After Pakistan’s early attack, Afghanistan made desperate efforts for an equalizer in the first half, which, however, ended 1-0 in favor of the Green Shirts.
The second half followed the same pattern: Afghanistan were denied an equalizer despite Pakistan making multiple substitutions and the score remained intact at 1-0 in their favor until the end of regulation time.
Pakistan Team:
Goalkeepers: Saqib Hanif, Yousuf Butt and Hassan Ali.
Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Mohammad Fazal, Abdullah Shah, Easah Suliman, Mohib Afridi, Mamoon Moosa, Ali Niazi and Haris Zeb.
Midfielders: Adil Nabi, Rahis Nabi, Alamgir Ghazi, Hayyan Khattak, Ali Agha and Otis Khan.
Forwards: Shayak Dost, Umer Nawaz, Ali Shah, Ali Khan, Samad Arshad and Harun Hamid.
