PHNOM PENH: Cambodia are in pole position to advance to the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after beating Pakistan 2-0 in the opening encounter of their first-round clash on Thursday.

Following a goalless first half at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, where it looked like Pakistan would be capable of frustrating the hosts for the entire 90 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken in the 81st minute.

After the opposition failed to fully clear their lines, the loose ball fell to 16-year-old Sieng Chanthea, who made no mistake in smashing home from close range to put his side ahead.

And, just three minutes later, Cambodia made sure of the win when veteran midfielder Kouch Sokumpheak embarked on an enterprising run and left a host of defenders in his wake before guiding his shot into the corner.

Both sides meet again in the second leg on Tuesday, where it already looks as though Cambodia will be confident in their prospects of advancing to the second round.

The loss means that there is much to do in the return game for Pakistan, whose football scene has been burdened by politics, corruption and incompetence for years.

The Pakistan team that is taking part in the World Cup qualifiers, largely made up of foreign-based players, has been sent by a Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) faction headed by Faisal Saleh Hayat, which isn’t recognised locally but is considered legitimate by FIFA.

The PFF led by Ashfaq Hussain Shah, who was elected to the post of president in an election conducted by the country’s Supreme Court following several years of turmoil, is recognised in the country.

The first game of the long qualification process for World Cup in Qatar was won by Mongolia, who beat Brunei 2-0.

With the tournament still nearly three and a half years away, Mongolia captain Tsedenbal Norjmoo scored the opening goal of the qualifiers with a free-kick in the ninth minute in Ulaanbaatar.

Brunei did create chances, but their finishing was wasteful, and Naranbold Nyam-Osor’s close-range effort left them with it all to do.

Tshering Dorji’s right-footed strike proved the only goal of the game as Bhutan won against Guam at the unique, ornate Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu.

Macau won 1-0 at home to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh triumphed by the same narrow scoreline at Laos, with 19-year-old Robiul Hasan getting the only goal late on.

The six teams that win their opening-round ties will go through to the next phase, where a further 34 Asian sides join the qualifying competition.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2019