KARACHI, April 28: The Pakistan soccer under-20 team take the field with one mission Monday — victory against favourites Bangladesh in a make-or-break clash of the Asian championship group V qualifiers.
A win guarantees either of the teams a place in the main round to be hosted by Qatar this October where they will be joined by 11 other qualifiers.
Both, Pakistan and Bangladesh, have collected six points after remaining unbeaten in the first two rounds of the four-team contest being played at the People’s Sports Complex.
Bangladesh, however, lead the points table with a better goal difference. Although the two sides have scored six goals, a goal conceded by Pakistan against Sri Lanka, gives Bangladesh an advantage.
Maldives and Sri Lanka will face each other at 3.30pm but this game is just a formality since they are now out of contention after losing both their two encounters earlier.
It will be the second success by a junior Pakistan squad if they reach the final round in the all-important match, which kicks off at 6.00pm. Earlier, in 2000, the under-19 side, also trained by British coach, John Layton, had qualified for the final round in Iran.
The team proceeded to the main round for the very first time in the football history of Pakistan.
The eagerly awaited Monday’s fixture is likely to be the toughest for Pakistan since the critics, and even Layton had branded Bangladesh as the biggest threat.
It will not be an upset if hot favourites Bangladesh win Monday’s match, but the Layton-built side, keeping its performance and prowess in mind, is equally capable of pulling off a victory.
The national under-20 side had even proved better against Sri Lanka Saturday with a 2-1 win, avenging their seniors’ defeat by the same outfit from the Pearl Island last month in a friendly.
Nevertheless, the hosts will be facing a bigger challenge since they need an outright victory, while the Bangladeshis just need a draw to qualify.
“It’s a must-win situation for us. I would like the boys to win because the Bangladesh side has a better goal difference. All they need is a draw against us,” Layton said.
The Englishman, who has been training the junior sides for the last two years, was confident that his team would walk away winners if they overcame one major grey area — the poor final touch.
“The boys have improved indeed after two matches. They now have better understanding, but still at times they are naive in attack and defence. If there will be no missing tomorrow, we could even win,” he said.
According to the coach, who likes his side play with a 4-4-2 formation, Pakistan players do have an edge over their rivals — good height as compared to the diminutive Bangladeshis.
“The fine passing movements and possession are the main weapons of the Bangladesh team who were training for the event for the last three to four months,” he said.
Pakistan midfielder, Shakir Taj, suffering from upset stomach for the last two days, would only be on the bench as substitute if he recovers by tomorrow or he would be a non-playing member.
Bangladesh coach, George Kottan, said nothing about the home side except “we will win if Pakistan really fields an under-20 team,” indicating that hosts have overage players.