Pakistan’s men’s football team ended a 35-year wait for an international victory over the Maldives and snapped a 961-day winless run with a convincing 3-0 victory in the Diamond Jubilee Four-Nation Football Tournament on Thursday.
The win significantly boosted Pakistan’s chances of reaching the tournament final after they had opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Bangladesh.
With a positive result needed to keep their hopes alive, Pakistan delivered a strong second-half performance after both sides failed to break the deadlock before halftime.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when young forward Umar Nawaz scored his first international goal in only his second appearance for Pakistan. The match also marked his first start for the national team.
Nawaz’s achievement carried special significance given his family's tragic history. His brother, Haris Nawaz, was among the martyrs of the 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar, while another brother, Ahmed Nawaz, was seriously injured in the incident. The family later moved to the United Kingdom in 2015, where Umar began his football career before earning a place in Pakistan’s national squad.
Pakistan doubled its lead in the 84th minute through Abdul Samad Arshad, putting the result beyond doubt.
Just three minutes later, Harun Hamid added a third goal to complete an emphatic victory for the visitors.
The result marked Pakistan’s first international win over the Maldives since 1991 and ended a lengthy drought for the national side. Pakistan’s last international victory had come against Cambodia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier on October 17, 2023.
The victory leaves Pakistan with four points from two matches, following the draw against Bangladesh and the win over the Maldives, placing the team firmly in contention for a place in the final.
Pakistan will play Afghanistan in its final league-stage match on June 7. A top-two finish in the standings will secure a place in the tournament final scheduled for June 10.