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| February 24, 2006 | Friday | Muharram 25, 1427 |
Asian Cup Soccer: Pakistan, India and BD suffer defeats
PESHAWAR, Feb 23: Pakistan, India and Bangladesh suffered heavy defeats on the opening day of the 14th Asian Cup first round qualifiers being played at different venues across Asia.
Only one match of the twelve ended in draw in the 12 countries Asian round as substitute Ali Nassereddine scored midway through the second half to help Lebanon held Kuwait to 1-1 draw in the group-D played at Beirut Municipal Stadium.
Before the equalizer, Fahad Al Hamad guided Kuwait to take a goal lead at the end of the first-half play, said a PFF release issued here Thursday.
Three of the four semifinalists in 6th SAFF Championship 2005 at Karachi— India, Bangladesh, Pakistan were well and truly outclassed as neither team managed a single goal.
Jaffar Khan-led Pakistan started the campaign with 0-3 reverse at the hands of Asian Cup 2004 quarterfinalists Jordan at Amman International Stadium.
The victory, which came courtesy of three goals late in the first half, helped Jordan to move the top of a tough-looking Group-C on goal difference, ahead of UAE who defeated Oman 1-0 at Dubai.
Emirates’ match-winner was Ismail Mattar in the 14th minute, when he chipped the ball over defender Mohamed Jamaan with some deft footwork and hammered it into the left corner.
Jordan controlled the game from the opening whistle with Pakistan restricted to their own half for much of the time and offering hardly any threat on the goal of Louay Al Amaireh.
Jordan went ahead in the 30th minute when striker Mahmoud Shelbaieh was brought down inside the penalty area and Hatem Aqel beat Jaffar from the spot.
Shelbaieh got on the score sheet himself in 38th minute, nodding in a cross by Amer Deeb to double Jordans lead.
There was further joy for the home side three minutes later when skipper Badran Al Shagran headed home another cross by the lively Amer Deeb.
In the second period, Jordan tried their hard to add any goal but were failed to do so.
Late results
Group C
UAE 1 Oman 0
Jordan 3 Pakistan 0
GROUP D
Lebanon 1 Kuwait 1.
—Agencies
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