Pakistan Thrash Maldives 3-0 in SAFF Championship, First Win in Eight Years

DHAKA: Pakistan beat Maldives 3-0 in a SAFF Championship group match played at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Najeeb Ullah scored twice. The first goal was scored by England-born forward Mac Kail Abdullah, whose first international goal for Pakistan it was.

It is Pakistan’s first win in the SAFF Championship in more than eight years. Their last victory in the tournament came on 8 September 2018, when they beat Bhutan.

Pakistan lost 3-2 to India in their opening match of the tournament. They scored twice in extra time in that game but could not turn the result in their favour.

Under coach Nolberto Solano, the former Peru great, the team had already won two matches at the ASEAN Cup.

Pakistan have now completed their group fixtures. If India and Maldives produce any result other than a draw, Pakistan will advance to the knockout stage. They last reached that stage in 2018.