MALE: Pakistan ended a wait of more than two and a half years for an international victory with a commanding 3-0 win over the Maldives in the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament, as the Shaheens finally turned promising performances into goals at the National Stadium on Thursday.
The victory was significant on multiple fronts. It marked Pakistan’s first win in 961 days, their first triumph over the Maldives since the 1991 South Asian Federation Games final and also handed head coach Nolberto Solano his maiden victory in charge of the national side.
Pakistan had enjoyed much of the possession and territorial advantage in the opening half but struggled to convert their superiority into clear-cut opportunities. The Maldives, despite spending long spells without the ball, remained a threat on the counter and ensured the match remained goalless at the interval.
Solano later revealed that patience had been central to Pakistan’s game plan.
“Both teams had their chances in the first half, but the most important thing was keeping a clean sheet in those first 45 minutes,” the Peruvian said. “We knew that in the second half teams normally begin to tire, and we would start finding spaces and creating moments to score. Thankfully, that is exactly what happened today.”
The breakthrough arrived after the restart when Hayyan Khattak unleashed a fierce effort that the Maldives goalkeeper could only spill. Umer Nawaz reacted quickest, pouncing on the loose ball to bundle home and give Pakistan the lead.
The goal forced the Maldives to push forward in search of an equaliser and they came close on a couple of occasions, creating two gilt-edged chances. However, their inability to convert allowed Pakistan to retain control of the contest.
Captain Abdullah Iqbal praised his side’s discipline after taking the lead.
“Most importantly, we got the three points, and we got them in the right manner — a great result against a tough team,” he said. “Even after scoring the first goal, we knew we had to stay focused and keep our shape so they couldn’t hurt us on the counter. It was important to maintain that balance while continuing to push for the second and third goals.”
As the Maldives committed more players forward, gaps began to appear at the back. Pakistan capitalised in the 83rd minute when substitute Abdul Samad Arshad calmly guided the ball beyond the goalkeeper to double the advantage.
Four minutes later, another substitute put the result beyond doubt. Harun Hamid’s effort took a decisive deflection off a defender and looped past the stranded goalkeeper to make it 3-0.
Solano acknowledged the challenge posed by the opposition and difficult playing conditions but was pleased with his side’s concentration.
“The Maldives are a very good team and we knew what to expect going in,” he said. “The surface did not help either side very much. It was genuinely difficult for the players to play the kind of football we want to play. But we were disciplined in possession and made sure we were solid at the back.”
“The plan worked,” he added. “But now we must immediately focus on the next match.”
For Pakistan, though, this was a day to savour — a long-awaited victory achieved in emphatic fashion and a result that could provide fresh momentum for the remainder of the tournament.
Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2026
