Latest news with #2027AsianCupQualifier
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Pak lose to Myanmar in Asian Cup qualifiers
Pakistan lost to Myanmar 1-0 in the Asian Football Confederation 2027 Asian Cup Qualifier third round in Yangon in their second Group E match at Thuwunna Stadium on Tuesday. The team lost to the hosts when Than Paing scored the winner in the 41st minute. Pakistan lost their first Group E match to Syria 2-0 on March 25. They are currently at the bottom of the group and will play their next fixture against Afghanistan in October. Myanmar are leading the group and they are poised to qualify for the main event that will take place in Saudi Arabia with 24 teams vying for the trophy. Only the winners of each of the six groups in the third round of qualifiers will proceed to the main event. Pakistan qualified for the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers after they played the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, before the match with Myanmar, Pakistan Head Coach Stephan Constantine acknowledged the challenge ahead in the press conference on June 9 while also thanking the Myanmar Football Federation for hosting the team, "I think for us it will be a very difficult game. For Pakistan, all of the games are difficult. I think everyone knows our situation, but we have a good group of players. They have worked hard over the last few days and we will come here to try to win the game." Pakistan team assembled in Islamabad for the training camp on June 3. Stephan also added in his previous press conference that the Green Shirts were against the group-favourite team. "Myanmar won their last game, so, of course, they're playing at home, they will be favourites for this game. But we will fight like we do in every game and we will try to get the result that we want, which is to win. We didn't come here to lose," said the Englishman. Meanwhile, on the front of Pakistan Football Fedetation's affairs, Syed Mohsen Gilani, the newly elected President of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), paid his first official visit to the Football House in Lahore on June 8, 2025, following his historic election victory in May. Mohsen Gillani received a warm welcome from Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar, Acting General Secretary and NC Member, along with Barrister Haris Azmat, a fellow member of the Normalisation Committee (NC).
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Parth Jindal demands deep introspection after India's poor show vs Hong Kong: 'Not good enough under any circumstances'
Team India faced backlash after their another underwhelming performance in a crucial match as they lost 0-1 to Hong Kong in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifier. The Blue Tigers failed to break the deadlock and conceded an injury-time goal to lose the match. It was another match where the Indian forwards were not clinical enough to convert the chances into goals, which led to another embarrassment. India did pretty well to create a few chances in the first half despite Hong Kong enjoying more possession, but they failed to get the job done in the final third to score a goal. Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal couldn't control his emotions after the Indian team's sub-par performance and lashed out at AIFF, demanding deep introspection for the repeated failures. "This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball - just not good enough under any circumstances - deep introspection needed by the AIFF - this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard earned money and effort to witness - get a manager and a system that works - it's high time - there is too much effort to see a result like this," Jindal wrote on X. Meanwhile, it was goalkeeper Vishal Kaith's failed attempt to palm the ball to after after coming out of the goalline, as he ended up hitting Michael Udebuluzor. The referee straightaway awarded Hong Kong a penalty in the injury time. Stefan Pereira (90 + 4) stepped up to take the spot kick and shot the ball to the right of Kaith, who was also shown a yellow card for his injury-time foul and Hong Kong sealed the game 1-0. Earlier, India coach Manolo Marquez kept out veteran striker Sunil Chhetri from the starting XI but it didn't help the visitors much as they were once lacked the finishing touch to score a goal in the first half. Both India and Hong Kong have had their moments but neither side could convert in a tightly contested first half of this crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier. India continued to generate opportunities in the second half, notably in the 81st minute when Lallianzuala Chhangte delivered a brilliant cutback to Chhetri inside the Hong Kong box. However, the veteran striker couldn't connect cleanly, missing a key chance. This outcome marks a setback for India, especially after their goalless draw against Bangladesh in their opening Asian Cup qualifying match back in March.
