KARACHI: Pakistan secured a place in the final of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives on Sunday after a 2-0 victory over Afghanistan, marking their first appearance in a senior men’s international final in 35 years.
Goals from Umar Nawaz and Harun Hamid powered Pakistan to a second consecutive win in the four-nation event, ensuring they finished among the top two teams in the round-robin stage and qualified for Wednesday’s title clash.
The result also marks Pakistan’s first appearance in a senior men’s international final since the 1991 South Asian Federation Games. It is further the country’s first final in a standalone international football tournament since the 1962 Merdeka Tournament, where Pakistan finished runners-up.
Pakistan needed only a draw to qualify after their earlier 3-0 win against hosts Maldives, which had ended a 961-day winless run in international football.
Pakistan took an early lead in the fifth minute when Umar Nawaz finished off a low cross from Shayek Dost. The team dominated possession for long spells, while Afghanistan struggled to create clear chances in the first half.
Afghanistan came close to equalising in stoppage time when captain Omid Popalzay struck the woodwork from a free kick.
Pakistan sealed the victory in injury time when substitute Harun Hamid converted a through ball from Adil Nabi, securing the win and sparking celebrations.
With the result, Pakistan have won two of their three matches in the tournament and will now play either Bangladesh U23 or Afghanistan in the final on June 10.