Olympics Games; Kuwait beat Pakistan 3-0   
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: Coming in patches, Kuwait beat Pakistan 3-0 in a Group A second round Olympics Games qualifying match here on Wednesday under lights at Punjab stadium.

Leading the first half after receiving one goal each from Fahad Shaheen and Hamad Alenezi the touring side folded the game on a jubilant note when Bader Aimotawaa scored in the last minute in front of a big audience.

The match was witnessed by President of Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, and President, Pakistan Olympic Association, Lt Gen retd Syed Arif Hasan.

In the first ever U21 clash between the two countries, Kuwaiti side,however, utilized most of the chances which come across their way and exhibited superb finish and deep coordation though the home side team thwarted most of their attempts out side the circle with brilliance and command.

Ranked are ranked 84th in FIFA World Ranking as compared to Pakistan ‘s 170.Striker Hamad Alenezi maintined his record of scoring in every match when he struck the second goal after creating the first one.

The 31st minute saw Fahad Shaheen open the scoring off Enezi’s defence-splitting pass and rattled the ball into left corner with close range drive. Enezi, who struck hat-trick against Bahrain, made it 2-0 in the 40th minute, following exchange of passes between skipper Bader Al Motawaa and Abdul Aziz Rakeb following a right-wing corner kick.

The best chance for Pakistan in first session came in the 33rd minute but luck eluded the home team. Winger Farooq Shah cut the ball across the area from right wing and midfielder Zahid Hameed smacked the left upright with diving header. It was 2-0 at interval.

The second half was confined to midfield exchanges. The 63rd minute provided Fahed Alebrahim a great chance but he failed to control the ball properly. Seven minutes later, Bader’s attempt was foiled by keeper Nabi. It could have been 3-0 in the 77th minute but Bader’s angular drive hit the base of left post. Pakistan, finally, conceded third goal in the final minute of game.

Substitute Abdul Rahman Alawadhi tapped the ball infront of skipper Bader Al Motawaa who drove the ball into right corner leaving Ghulam Nabi stranded.

The Teams

Pakistan; Mehmood Ahmed, Ghulam Nabi, Muhammad Shahid, Abbas Ali, Haji Muhammad, Samar Ishaq, IMuhammad Imran, Yasir Afridi, Muhammad Ahmed, Zahid Hameed ©, Mubashar Hussain, Abdul Aziz, Farooq Shah (VC), Ghulam Mustafa, Nasr Ullah Khan, Muhammad Rasool, Abid Khan, Faheem Riaz, Adnan Bari, Imran Niazi. Coach : Muhammad Rasheed

Kuwait: Khaled M. AlRashidi, Hameed S. Youssef , Faisal M. Dashti, Abdul Aziz H. Rakeb, Hammad M. Alobaidli, Ali A. AlMaqseed, Khaled A. Alqahtani, Hussain A. Alqhareeb, Fahad A. Shaheen, Edbrahim A. Saleh, Talal. N. Alenzi, Maged Kh. Alenezi, Husain M. Almosawi, Fahed E. Alebrahim, Bader A. Almotawaa , Hamad N. Alenezi, Ali A. Alkandari, Abdullah A. Almutawa, Abdul Rahman Alawadhi. Coach : Vladimir Petrovic Match Commissioner : Manirul Islam (Bangladesh) Referee : Kim Dong Jin (South Korea) Assistant Referees : Kim Kye Soo/Yang Byoung Eun (both South Korea) 4th Official : Kwon Jong Chul (South Korea).●