Pakistan win first football match in Asian Games after 44 years

JAKARTA (92 News) – Pakistan national football team recorded its first victory in Asian Games after 44 years after defeating Nepal by 2-1 on Sunday. According to the details garnered, the Pakistan team also recorded their first victory in the Asian games after nearly 44 years as they defeated Nepal 2-1 in their last group D match. Muhammad Bilal and captain Saddam Hussain scored one goal each. The victory did not come easy though as the national team dug themselves a hole difficult to get out of, scoring an own-goal in the 12th minute, because of a mistake by Shahbaz Younus. In the first match on August 14, Vietnam beat Pakistan in its first match of Asian Games, underway in Jakarta. The green shirts were defeated by a clear margin of 3-0 in the opener. Pakistan football team left for Jakarta on August 12, to take part in the games. Saddam Hussain is leading the 22-player team while Saqib Hanif has been appointed as the vice-captain. Pakistan is participating in an international event after a gap of three years. Before departure, Coach José Antonio Nogueira stated that the national team has to perform well as the competition will be tough. Pakistan has only ever won three matches at the Asain Games football event now, the other two being in 1954 and 1974. The rules of fielding the teams at the Asian Games had changed in 2002, as the participating nations can field only three seniors players now, and the rest of the squad should be U23.