Pakistan's women thump Kyrgyzstan to conclude Asian Cup qualifiers

Pakistan's national women's football team poses with the national flag in this undated image. — Reporter

KARACHI: Pakistan's women's football team concluded their AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a spirited 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan at the Sport Center Kelapa Dua Stadium in Tangerang on Saturday.

Though they ultimately fell short of qualifying for the main tournament, the Green Shirts showcased remarkable progress, securing two wins out of three matches, both against higher-ranked opponents.

The undisputed star of the match was forward Maryam Mahmood, who netted both goals for Pakistan in a dominant first-half display.

Mahmood wasted no time in making an impact, opening the scoring just four minutes into the game. She then doubled Pakistan's advantage from the penalty spot in the 26th minute, putting her team firmly in control.

Kyrgyzstan's Alina Gaparova pulled one back in the 69th minute, but Pakistan held firm to secure the victory.

The match statistics reflected Pakistan's dominance, with 16 shots compared to Kyrgyzstan's 10, and eight corner kicks against Kyrgyzstan's four. Pakistan also led in dangerous attacks (48), underlining their approach.

Ranked 157th in the world, Pakistan's wins over Kyrgyzstan (136th) and Indonesia (ranked 95th) highlighted their progress.

Although they fell short of qualification following a 0-8 defeat by Chinese Taipei in the opening game, the team's performances signaled a promising future for women's football in the country.

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