PORT LOUIS: When Mauritius turned on the style, Pakistan were left looking on as bystanders.
After a goalless first half, Mauritius scored three goals in the space of 18 minutes on Sunday against Pakistan for a 3-0 win in the opener of the Four Nation Cup, which also features Kenya and Djibouti.
Without defenders Easah Suliman and Abdullah Iqbal, Pakistan were carved open by the hosts with ease with their goal living a charmed life until Villeneuve Jeremy Robert scored with a scorching drive in the 53rd.
It opened the floodgates with Ashley Nazira doubling the lead from inside the box ten minutes later before Mamoon Moosa inadvertently turned in a cross from the right in the 71st.
That ended the scoring in a game where Pakistan’s defence and midfield, despite the presence of British-based Otis Khan — who was making his debut — and Rahis Nabi as well as Denmark-based Adnan Mohammad, were undone by Mauritius’ high press.
Pakistan’s next game at the round-robin tournament is up against Kenya on Wednesday, where they will be counting on Easah and Abdullah to shore up the defence.
Portugal-based Easah, the former England Under-20 centre-back, recently joined the Pakistan roster and is due to link up with the team on Monday.
Abdullah, meanwhile, is still in Denmark and scored the winner for B.93 in their second-division match on Sunday.
Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2023
