Football

Pakistan ended their SAFF Women's Championship campaign on a winning note with a comfortable 7-0 victory over Maldives at the Dashrath Stadium on Monday. 

Nadia Khan led the Pakistani charge with four goals in the day’s early kick-off at the Dashrath Stadium. Ramin Farid, Khadija Kazmi and Anmol Hira scored a goal each to bow out with their heads held high.

The match was inconsequential, however as India and Bangladesh had booked their places in the last four from the group. After a 3-0 defeat to India, Pakistan went down 6-0 to Bangladesh. Maldives, who lost 3-0 to Bangladesh in their opening game, were humbled 9-0 by India.

But the Pakistanis, who returned to international football after almost eight years, made their intent clear from the onset of Monday’s game: to wrap up the campaign on a happy note.

Farid found the target with a long range effort to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute. 
Some spirited defending from Maldives limited the damage to a solitary goal at half time.

Pakistan returned from the break with much verve. In the 48th minute, Maldives’ Esata Ravin handled the ball inside the box under pressure. And Khadija scored from the resulting penalty to put Pakistan 2-0 up.

Nadia then began orchestrating the Pakistani play, causing panic in the Maldivian defence. She opened her personal account in the 54th minute, and added another showcasing a sublime skill to extend the team’s lead to 4-0 in the 78th minute. 

She then completed a hat trick in the 84th minute, getting the better of three defenders. Taking advantage of a poor defensive work, she then netted her fourth for a 6-0 lead in the 90th minute.  
Nadia then switched to a role of supplier, and Hira scored on a pass five minutes into the injury time to bring an end to the Maldives misery.