Pakistan win in style vs Singapore. Olympic Qualifier

Looking in this section it looks pathetic, plz excuse me for ignorence.

In a historic win you guys didnt even mind putting it up, the cricket has got to us too much. Pakistan were clear underdogs and everybody expected Singapore to win with big scoreline but it didnt go as they planned. Our football require a little interest from you guys thats all.


Here is match report.

Singapore Olympic team lose out to resolute Pakistan side

Elwyn Lee
info@fas.org.sg


Singapore played commendably but failed to secure victory over a more determined and resolute Pakistani U-21 side, who carved out a 2-1 away win at Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Their win in the two-legged tie of the Olympics Preliminary Qualifiers gives Pakistan the edge for the second leg to be held at Lahore, Pakistan, next Wednesday (14 Feb).

Pakistan U-21 Coach Muhammad Rasheed shared his satisfaction over a victory he was all the while confident about getting. “It was a very good game, we expected to win, my boys worked very hard and we have achieved our target,” he said.

“Singapore are a very good team but Pakistan worked hard to achieve their target and played a good game” said the confident but humble Rasheed.

Asked about his team’s increased chances at qualification now that they have the away win, Coach Muhammad was non-committal about an overall victory after the return game next week at Lahore’s Punjab Stadium.

“Inshak Allah” (or God Willing) were the Coach’s only words when asked whether an overall victory over Singapore was now much more likely.

Singapore’s U-21’s started the game positively, with numerous forays that threatened the away goal. Pakistan began making their mark on the game only mid-way through the first half. In the 23rd, Pakistan came close when a shot from the edge of the penalty box was saved by the foot of goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam.

A minute later, Singapore missed a gilt-edge opportunity when a well executed volley by Muhammad Firdaus was kept out by Pakistan’s custodian Mehmood Ahmed.

While the Singapore boys kept up the pressure, Pakistan were improving on their game. In the air, the Pakistanis were agile, confident and winning the balls. Their players were also looking sharp down the flanks where good build-ups were being carved out. A more evenly balanced game was taking shape as the match progressed.

At the half hour mark, Singapore again missed a chance to take the lead when Mohamad Shaiful saw his powerful long shot, taken from near the throw-in line, palmed away expertly by Mehmood even as it appeared destined to enter the top left of the goal. And while the Pakistani team were showing confidence some 10 minutes before the break, some poor passing of the ball by Singapore’s boys was to allow the guests to exploit spaces within and near the home goal.

What was clearly evident at the break, however, was a growing confidence within the Pakistani boys as opposed to some sloppy play and a waning of confidence in the Singapore side.

Credit must, however, go to Singapore when the game commenced. Guns a-blazing, they once again showed their fighting spirit and missed taking the lead in the 49th when a low powerful shot from the right beat custodian Mehmood, missed the boot of an oncoming Singapore striker and finally passed excruciatingly close but away from the bottom left post.

As Singapore gained some control over the game, Amri's headed goal in the 57th minute came timely. The national striker connected sharply with an incoming corner from the left, sending the ball rocketing into the bottom right of the visitor’s goal. Nevertheless,

Pakistan’s perseverance saw them deservedly level the scores twelve minutes later when Mubashar Hussain was fortunate to find the ball coming off his foot, fly high, and go looping over Singapore’s custodian Zaiful Nizam, into the back of the net.

If the equaliser for Pakistan was assisted by lady luck, the winning goal was supreme in its precision. Farooq Shah, a substitute in the 67th minute, made a bee-line down the middle of the Singapore box; latching expertly to a metre-high pass from down the outside left. He shielded the ball from the defender to his left, ran two metres and then let fly with a well-placed ball to the far right of the goal, leaving custodian Zaiful flailing as he desperately tried to cover his angles.

That winning goal came in the 87th minute and effectively ended Singapore’s chances of getting even a draw, never mind the much sought after win to take to the away leg in Lahore.

Singapore U-21 Coach Terry Pathmanathan was philosophical in his assessment of the defeat. “We are not giving up hope yet as there’s another leg. Singapore was not outplayed and we will find solutions for the return leg,” said a disappointed Terry, who also added his praises to Pakistan for the way they seized their opportunities with good, determined play.

In the end, Singapore’s U-21 squad were probably outdone by a sense of complacency and nervousness, succumbing to an overall more tenacious Pakistan U-21 outfit who were just more hungry for the victory. But with the objective in Lahore not being an insurmountable one, Singapore’s young boys should perhaps take a cue from their opponents - by displaying the persistence and resolve in fighting for, and ultimately achieving the required result in Pakistan next week.

That possibility is well within reach, but only with self-belief and a strong enough resolve.

Congrates!! Excellent result. All they need is a draw at home. Keep it up boys!!

The other thing they need is your support. So i kindly request if we give some thoughts and time to our football on this forum and i am sure we can spread the awareness of our football to those who dnt know we have a team. Thanks guys.

Good to hear. A guy at where I did my internship showed highlights of the Pakistan vs Japan game that happened a couple of months back and said the guy who scored the first goal was his cousin.

what was the score in that game Daoud?

They won 3-2, but considering the fact that they've been reaching the WC for a while now, thats not a bad result

saj - it was 3-2 japan. Pakistan's 2nd goal in that game was sensational! reminded me a bit of carlos alberto - u remember from the world cup all those years ago

The Japan match ended 3-2 to Japan but everyone though Pkn will lose by cricket score but the biys did really well.

That was Mohammed Rasool's cousin, i asked for contact and maybe get him a better club abroad but he never replied.

I am banned to post our official fansite of Pakistan Football.

Here are the few clips but doesnt contain Pkni goals..sorry guys..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=04g61bN9-Vo

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RTDUrS0uGiU

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e_ukmbqa7pI

great to hear. well done MIG, and i don't mean miggy

Great result...
so how does it work? because i thought for the olympics the teams were allowed to add 3 players over the age of 21.

Now only U21 allowed. The boys did well especially when the UK and other players from abroad missed the entry deadline. Everyone was expecting a loss in result of that but the boys did Pkn proud.

thanks for clearing that up Faisalabad but don't you think that with no one over 21 allowed it will take the charm out of the tournament?


anyways the captain seems to be really happy!
http://dawn.com/2007/02/10/spt11.htm

i dont think it takes the taste away because it gives the chance to young players, like in last olympics, messi, tevez, mascherano, aguero, dudu and few others came up good...so for pkn it was hard without essa, jaffar, addel and naveed but they still did good. Now hope we win on wednesday. Is anyone going to watch the match from here, or anyone watching it on ptv national will it be possible to record it and post it up here. Cheers. Plz go and support your nation because the time has come that your nation need your support, enough of brazil, argentine, italy and germany.

and Pak won 2nd match at home as well beating Singapore 3-2 I think.

great news...consolation after our cricket team's performance.

I think the time has come that Pakistani public show some support to football in Pakistan. Its pathetic, Pakistani media and public, brainwashed by cricket, what happened against South Africa was terrible and I think this football result made those feel better who were in mood. So please support your nation, now we have 6 more matches to play. Please go out to the stadiums and watch matches.

When and where are next 6 matches ? and against which teams ?

Out of he 6 matches 3 will be at home.
The fixtures are listed below.
28 Feb : Bahrain - Pakistan
14 March : Pakistan - Qatar
28 March : Pakistan - Kuwait
18 April : Kuwait - Pakistan
16 May : Pakistan - Bahrain
6 June : Qatar - Pakistan

Thank you.