The Hindu : Sport / Football : Pakistan XI keeps its chances alive

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Friday, Apr 13, 2007
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Pakistan XI keeps its chances alive

M.R. Praveen Chandran

Kannur: The goodly crowd, which had come to see a lop-sided encounter, witnessed one of the dullest matches in the tournament as Pakistan XI held FC Nania, Ghana to a goalless draw to keep alive its chances of a semifinal berth in the E.K. Nayanar memorial Gold Cup international football tournament at the Municipal Jawahar stadium here on Thursday.

Nania FC, which rested five key players, looked a parody of the side that had rode roughshod over its rivals in the previous matches.

The draw puts Pakistan XI in a must-win situation in its last match against Vasco SC on Friday. Nania FC has finished its engagements with five points from three matches.

Though Pakistan rested its influential playmaker Mohammed Essa, it didn't miss him at all. Pakistan matched its rival in tactical and technical brilliance and at times even dominated the Ghanaians in the midfield.

Pakistan could have gone ahead in the 18th minute had Mohammed Qasim held his nerve inside the penalty box when he had only the goalkeeper to beat. But the striker fumbled and shot straight at the goalkeeper.

The Pakistanis had another chance when Mohammed Qasim released Javed Hamza free with a through ball but the midfielder shot wide much to the disappointment of his team-mates in the 22nd minute.

Shahid Ahmed muffed a good chance to put his side ahead at the fag end of the first half. Shahid after doing the hard work, by entering the penalty box, spoilt it by banging the ball straight at the goalkeeper's legs. Adeel Ahmed, however, blasted the rebound, out.

The Ghanaians brought in Rahim Kofi Ayew in the second half. But the striker was tightly marked by the Pakistan defence. He didn't have support upfront and was starved off passes as his midfield failed to complement his enthusiasm.

The Pakistanis cut out the frills and concentrated more on counter-attacks and gave a few uncomfortable moments to the Ghanaian defence.

The Ghanaians had disappointed and the crowd gave vent to their feelings by booing them off the field.

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