Umar Nawaz scores first international goal as Pakistan boosts final hopes with 3-0 victory
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Pakistan’s men’s football team snapped a 961-day wait for an international victory with an emphatic 3-0 win over hosts Maldives in the Diamond Jubilee Four-Nation Football Tournament on Thursday.
After a goalless draw against Bangladesh in their opening match, Pakistan needed a positive result to stay in contention for the final. The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when young forward Umar Nawaz scored his first international goal in just his second appearance for the national team.
Making his first start for Pakistan, Nawaz delivered a memorable performance on a night that also carried personal significance. His brother, Haris Nawaz, was among the victims of the 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar, while another brother, Ahmed Nawaz, survived serious injuries. The family later relocated to the United Kingdom, where Umar developed his football career before earning a place in Pakistan’s national squad.
Pakistan sealed the victory with two late goals. Abdul Samad Arshad doubled the lead in the 84th minute before Harun Hamid added a third just three minutes later.
The result ended Pakistan’s 35-year wait for an international win over the Maldives, with their last victory against the island nation dating back to 1991. It also brought an end to Pakistan’s prolonged winless run in international football.
With four points from two matches, Pakistan remains firmly in the race for a place in the final. The team will face Afghanistan on June 7, with a spot in the June 10 championship match still within reach.
