KARACHI, Dec. 8 (APP): Pakistan put up glorious display of scoring power as they thrashed last year’s semi finalist Bhutan 7 0 in the Group B clash of 8th SAFF Championship at Dhaka’ Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday. It was second ever tie between two nations. Pakistan also won the first one 2 1 at Dasharath stadium, Kathmandu during South Asian Games 1999. It was second biggest win in entire history of SAFF Championship after Maldivians 9 1 win over Afghanistan at Karachi in 2005 Muhammad Essa led Pakistan opened the mission in offensive style, getting corner in the second minute but Essa’s powerful shot was parried away by keeper Tenzi. Essa came close again in the 5th minute but his free kick failed to yield goal.
Pakistan needing 5 0 goal against Bhutan to pressurize Bangladesh, opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
KESC’s Essa utilized the gap created after fine work by Arif Mehmood and Amjad Iqbal. Two minutes later another British based Reis Ashraf came into action, scoring his first ever international goal in making score 2 0.
20 year old Reis, born at Newport Pagnell, England, punished a defensive blunder that occurred through Bhutan’s skipper Pema.
Multan born Arif Mehmood, current leading hitman of Pakistan Premiership 2009 with 20 goals, enhanced scoreline to 3 0 in the 26th minute when he dashed through the middle to fire the ball into back of the net.
Pakistani front runners and midfielder completely damaged the Bhutanese and it was 4 0 in the 36th minute. A collision between Bhutan keeper and Essa allowed Arif to score his second of the afternoon in the 36th minute.
Another British recruit Shabir Khan, Worcester City defender, made it 5 0 on the stroke of interval with fierce close range drive. Bhutan, down 0 5 at half time, started thec second session with new keeper Tshering Dhendup who replaced Tenzin.
But Dhendup was also beaten man in the 53rd minute. The keeper violated rule by collecting the back pass with his hands and Essa, leading marksman for Pakistan Under23 team when they won 9th SA Games soccer title five years ago, made no mistake with tricky drive.
Pakistan, despite getting five goals they were looking for, still pressing hard for more goals. Hapless Bhutanese become the punching bag of the match and were completely demolished.
Arif completed the rout when his sparkling 66th minute goal lifted the score to 7 0. Arif thus completed well deserved hat trick, the seventh of the history of the event.
Wednesday Fixture: Afghanistan v Nepal, Maldives v India.
Pakistan needing 5 0 goal against Bhutan to pressurize Bangladesh, opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
KESC’s Essa utilized the gap created after fine work by Arif Mehmood and Amjad Iqbal. Two minutes later another British based Reis Ashraf came into action, scoring his first ever international goal in making score 2 0.
20 year old Reis, born at Newport Pagnell, England, punished a defensive blunder that occurred through Bhutan’s skipper Pema.
Multan born Arif Mehmood, current leading hitman of Pakistan Premiership 2009 with 20 goals, enhanced scoreline to 3 0 in the 26th minute when he dashed through the middle to fire the ball into back of the net.
Pakistani front runners and midfielder completely damaged the Bhutanese and it was 4 0 in the 36th minute. A collision between Bhutan keeper and Essa allowed Arif to score his second of the afternoon in the 36th minute.
Another British recruit Shabir Khan, Worcester City defender, made it 5 0 on the stroke of interval with fierce close range drive. Bhutan, down 0 5 at half time, started thec second session with new keeper Tshering Dhendup who replaced Tenzin.
But Dhendup was also beaten man in the 53rd minute. The keeper violated rule by collecting the back pass with his hands and Essa, leading marksman for Pakistan Under23 team when they won 9th SA Games soccer title five years ago, made no mistake with tricky drive.
Pakistan, despite getting five goals they were looking for, still pressing hard for more goals. Hapless Bhutanese become the punching bag of the match and were completely demolished.
Arif completed the rout when his sparkling 66th minute goal lifted the score to 7 0. Arif thus completed well deserved hat trick, the seventh of the history of the event.
Wednesday Fixture: Afghanistan v Nepal, Maldives v India.
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