DUBAI: Pakistan beat Kyrgyzstan 3-1 on Wednesday to grab a consolation win and third place in Group ‘B’ of the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Having lost 5-0 to group winners Jordan and 2-0 to second-placed Kuwait in their opening two games which put them out of the running for qualification to next year’s finals from the group, Pakistan’s victory of Kyrgyzstan saw them snatch third spot.

Avazbek Okteev gave Kyrgyzstan a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute only for Pakistan captain Sadam Hussain to even the match with five minutes of the first-half remaining.

A Manas Karipov own goal ten minutes after the interval put Pakistan 2-1 up before substitute Mansoor Khan struck in the 88th minute to seal the win for the Green-shirts, who had skipper and goal-scorer Saddam sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence.

Pakistan finished with three points, above Kyrgyzstan who ended with just one. Jordan booked a spot in next year’s finals in Qatar with their 3-3 draw against Kuwait on Wednesday seeing them finish with seven points, two ahead of Kuwait.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

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