Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: World No. 193 hosts Pakistan succumbed to heavyweights World No. 109 Tajikistan, who outplayed Green Shirts 6-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Tuesday. Over 20 thousand people enjoyed the game in the wonderful weather and excellent conditions of the capital city.
The match kicked off at 2:00 pm, as the Green Shirts got a free kick in the 4th minute of the game on the top of D, as the chance could not be fruitful for the hosts. However, in the 9th minute, a joint move from left-corner Kamolov Amadoni managed the ball in the net after getting a rebound from the left side of Pakistani goalkeeper Yousaf Ejaz Butt, as Tajikistan succeeded in earning an earlier lead in a vital fixture of FIFA World Cup Qualifier.
After 5 minutes, Soirov Rustam doubled the lead by scoring a goal, as guided the ball into the goalpost as he received a pass from a midfielder from the left side. After going down 0-2, Pakistan coach Stephen Constantine made some changes in the strategy. Pakistan footballs were looking bit quick and tried their best to reduce the goal deficit, as in the efforts they got a couple of corners too. Rahis Nabi finally scored a goal for Pakistan in the 14th minute from the right side of the box. He made the score-line 1-0.
Tajikistan managed two more goal during the first half of the match, as Pakistani players were bit slow in the last moments of the first half and opposition netted the ball in the 45th minute of the match. Umarboev Parvizion, and Ehson Panshanbe scored the 3rd and 4th goal for their team in the 27th and 45th minutes respectively.
In the second half, the visitors added two more goals while the hosts could not score a goal in the last 45 minutes. At the final whistle, the score-line was 6-1 in the favour of Tajikistan. The match referee, Yusuke Araki from Japan controlled the proceeding while Jun Mihara, and Kota Watanabe, also from Japan, were his assistants on the line.
Pakistan Squad: Yousuf Ejaz Butt (Goalkeeper), Mohib Ullah Khan, Abdullah Iqbal, Mamoon Moosa Khan, Otis Khan (Captain), Rahis Nabi, Imran Shahid Kayani, Harun Arrashid Faheem, Junaid Ahmed Shah, Abdul Samad, Alamgir Ali Khan.
Substitutes: Mohammad Hammad Waheed, Haseeb Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Waleed Khan, Rajab Ali, Fareed Ullah, Mohammad Sadam, Ali Uzair Mahmood, Mohammad Hamza Munir, Moin Ahmed, Salman-ul-Haq, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Sohail
Head Coach: Stephen Constantine (United Kingdom)
Tajikistan Squad: Yatimov Rustam (Goalkeeper), Zoir Dzhuraboev, Safarov Manuchehr, Vahdat Hanonov, Umarboev Parvizion, Amirbek Juraboev, Soirov Rustam, Dzhalilov Alisher, Kamolov Amadoni, Akhtam Nazarov (Captain), Ehson Panshanbe
Substitutes: Islomov Tabrez, Nazarov Kholmurod, Mohammad Jon Rahimov, Qurbonov Sodiqion, Burizod Alijoni, Mabatshoev Shervoni, Barotov Dalerion, Khailoev Ruslan, Khamrokulov Nuriddin, Mohammad Ali Azizboev, Samiev Shahrom, Hasanov Muhriddin (Goalkeeper)
Head Coach: Peter Segrt (Croatia)
Match Officials:
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
Assistant Referee 1: Jun Mihara (Japan)
Assistant Referee 2: Kota Watanabe (Japan)
Fourth Official: Ngo Duy Lan (Vietnam)
Referee Assessor: Kadhum Auda Al-Saedi (Iraq)
Match Commissioner: Alim Arifov (Uzbekistan).
