The Green Shirts defeated Afghanistan 0-2 in their final round-robin match on Sunday for their second consecutive win and made it to the final of a senior international tournament after 35 years._x000D_
_x000D_
Umar Nawaz and Haroon Hamid scored for Pakistan. With this victory, Pakistan has won two of its three matches in the four-nation event and reached the final._x000D_
_x000D_
This will be the first international final for Pakistan’s senior men’s football team since the 1991 South Asian Federation (SAFF) Games. With this, Pakistan will reach the final of an independent or standalone international football tournament for the first time since the 1962 Merdeka Tournament._x000D_
_x000D_
In 1962, Pakistan made it to the final of the Merdeka Tournament where it lost 1-2 to Indonesia._x000D_
_x000D_
Pakistan needed only a draw to reach the final on Sunday after a memorable 0-3 win over Maldives, but coach Nolberto Solano’s team kept the pressure on their opponents from the start, adopting a positive approach._x000D_
_x000D_
Pakistan took the lead in the fifth minute of the match when Umar Nawaz slotted the ball into the net with one touch from a brilliant cross from Shaiq Dost. After the early goal, Pakistan maintained control of the game and Afghanistan struggled to create clear-cut chances._x000D_
_x000D_
Pakistan also created more chances in the first half. Isa Suleiman came close to scoring from a pass from Otis Khan but his effort went over the bar. Afghanistan had a golden chance to equalise in first-half stoppage time when captain Umid Popalzai’s free kick hit the crossbar._x000D_
_x000D_
Afghanistan tried to make a comeback in the second half but Pakistan’s defence remained composed._x000D_
_x000D_
On the other hand, Pakistan increased its counterattacks and at one point, Ali Agha was in position to score a goal on a beautiful pass from Shaiq Dost, but his shot went wide of the target._x000D_
_x000D_
In the closing moments of the match, Pakistan sealed the victory when, in the first minute of injury time, Haroon Hamid outpaced the defenders and doubled Pakistan’s lead with a powerful shot._x000D_
_x000D_
As soon as the decisive whistle blew, Pakistani players and officials celebrated the historic victory. This victory is another important milestone in the recent progress of the national team, which had achieved its first international victory in 961 days against Maldives a few days ago._x000D_
_x000D_
Pakistan will now face either Bangladesh or Afghanistan in the final to be played on June 10.
