Tag: Pakistan vs Tajikistan

Tajikistan thump Pakistan 3-0 in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

DUSHANBE: Tajikistan handed Pakistan a thumping 3-0 defeat in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the Central Republican Stadium here on Tuesday.

Mabateshoev Shervoni opened the scoring for Tajikistan in the 35th minute, while Safarov Manuchehr doubled the lead in the 65th minute after a dominant performance in the second half.

Vahdat Hanonov also got his name in the scoresheet six minutes later, further extending the lead for the home side.

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan recently succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against Saudi Arabia at Jinnah International Stadium in Islamabad.

Pakistan are at the bottom of Group G of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers as they ended up on the losing side in all five matches played thus far.

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For the unversed, the Pakistan men’s football team reached Dushanbe on Tuesday afternoon, just a few hours before the match against Tajikistan.

According to the details, a bunch of players and support staff departed for Tajikistan following the national team’s home leg of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers against Saudi Arabia.

However, some of the players were left behind as their flight to Faisalabad was cancelled twice, pertaining to a bird strike and technical issues.

Then arrangements were made for a chartered flight but it was also cancelled due to technical issues.

The cancellation of the flights had put Pakistan’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match against Tajikistan in limbo until Pakistan Air Force came to the rescue and flew the remaining players from Nur Khan Air Base in the morning to Dushanbe.

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Pakistan hammered by Tajikistan in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

ISLAMABAD: Tajikistan came out all guns blazing in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers against Pakistan as they handed a 6-1 defeat to the hosts at the Jinnah Stadium here on Tuesday.

Tajikistan started the game on a high as they opened the scoring in the opening minutes when Amadoni Kamolov scored for the touring side. His strike took a minor deflection from Abdullah Iqbal and ran into the net.

The visitors doubled their lead five minutes later with another outside-the-box strike. Tajikistan striker Rustam Soirov fired a scintillating kick which beat Pakistan’s goalkeeper Yousuf Butt.

Pakistan fans at the Islamabad Stadium then finally found a moment to cherish when Rahis Nabi pulled one back for the home side in the 21st minute.

He nailed a long-range strike from his left foot, glimmering a ray of hope for Pakistan.

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Pakistan’s comeback, however, was shortlived as Tajikistan exploited their errors in the possession, especially in the midfield and restored their two-goal advantage in the 26th minute with yet another outside-the-box strike.

The visitors, with momentum in their favour, strengthened their command of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers by netting their fourth goal just before half-time.

There was no change of fortune for Pakistan in the second half as Tajikistan continued to dominate the hosts.

The visitors got another reward for their superior possession and pace in the 66th minute when Kamolov scored a screamer from outside the box.

Pakistan’s struggles did not end there as Tajikistan scored yet another goal in the 90th minute, courtesy of Shahrom Samiev.

In the first match of the second round of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, Pakistan suffered a 4-0 thrashing from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

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Zahmena gives Pakistan consolation win in Paris Olympic Qualifiers

HISOR: Zahmena Malika’s decider helped Pakistan women’s football team beat hosts Tajikistan 1-0 and grab the consolation win in their maiden qualifying campaign for the Olympics on Tuesday. 

The England-based forward netted the ball in the 25th minute as Pakistan, already out of the race to advance to the second round of qualifying for next year’s Paris Olympics, ended their campaign on a positive note and finally got some points on the board.

With the win, Pakistan finished third in Group E after having lost to the Philippines and Hong Kong in the previous matches.

The London Seaward forward got on the end of a superb through ball by Amina Hanif, springing the offside trap before running through and calmly slotting it past the Tajikistan goalkeeper to give her side the lead. It was also Pakistan’s first goal in the qualifiers.

The London Seaward attacker connected with Amina Hanif’s excellent through ball, beating the offside trap before slotting Pakistan’s first-ever goal in the Olympics qualifiers.

The Philippines, who beat Hong Kong 2-0 earlier on Tuesday, secured a ticket to the next round.

In the first round of Olympic Qualifiers, 26 Asian teams, divided across seven groups, participated.

Winners from each group will join Asia’s five highest-ranked teams – North Korea, Japan, Australia, China and South Korea – in the second round of the Paris 2024 Olympic women’s football qualifiers to be held in October.

The three group winners and one best-placed runner-up from the second round will play for the two spots for Paris 2024 Olympics in the final round to be held in November-December 2023.

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