Malaysia U23 overpower Pakistan 2-1 in friendly

KARACHI: Pakistan football team went down 1-2 against a Malaysia Under-23 side in their second practice match at UITM Campus Puncak Alam in Selangor, Malaysia, on Thursday.
Malaysia gained a two goal lead by scoring goals in the tenth and 71st minute. However, Pakistan pulled one back through their gutsy midfielder Mohammad Riaz who scored through a fine header off Danish striker Hassan Bashir’s corner by in the 87th minute.
In spite of defeat Pakistan team manager Asghar Khan Anjum said the team played really well.
“Keeping in view the facilities and the standard of Malaysia’s Under-23 side, I think we played better than the hosts,” Asghar told ‘The News’ from Selangor.
“In the second-half we had dominated the hosts but missed seven to eight goals which harmed us,” Asghar added.
“Malaysia’s captain scored the first goal through a direct shoot off a free-kick from just outside the area. The second goal was unexpected. Malaysia’s player was falling on the ground near the centre-line and our players and keeper Saqib Hanif stopped playing while demonstrating fair-play but Malaysia’s players did not bother that and put the ball in the net,” Asghar appended. However, the video of the match watched by this correspondent rejects claims of the manager.
He said that out of 19 players Pakistan used 17. Keeper Ahsanullah and right-back Mohsin did not play.
Mohsin was ill and so he was rested, Asghar said. Asghar said in the first 30 to 35 minutes gloveman Muzammil Hussain was used, while in the remaining time Saqib Hanif served under the cage.
In their first clash at Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor on February 23, Pakistan had beaten Malaysia’s Under-19 team 3-1.
Pakistan will now move to Bangkok on Sunday.
“We will fly to Bangkok on Sunday and will face Thailand’s Premier League Club on March 3. On March 5, we would face Thailand’s Under-23 side,” Asghar said.
Pakistan will face Yemen in their two-legged

first round World Cup qualifiers on March 12 and 17 at Doha and Lahore, respectively.