Pakistan fight back from two goals down to hold Philippines 2-2 and earn first FIFA ASEAN Cup point

Pakistan’s footballers staged a stirring second-half comeback to draw 2-2 with the Philippines in the FIFA ASEAN Cup on Tuesday, scoring their first goals and earning their first point of the tournament after trailing by two at half-time.

Ali Akbar Khan pulled one back two minutes after the restart, and Abdul Samad Arshad levelled soon after, as the Shaheens held a side ranked more than 60 places above them at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia.

Pakistan, ranked 198th in the world, are making their debut in a FIFA competition of this kind. The Philippines are ranked in the 130s. The point came days after Pakistan, competing as a guest nation, lost their Group B opener 4-0 to Thailand in the same city. Pakistan arrived in Indonesia after winning the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives in the summer, their first title in 74 years. In the Thailand game, forward Teerasak Poeiphimai scored twice for a side ranked 94th in the world.

A difficult first half

The Philippines controlled the early exchanges. Pakistan goalkeeper Yousuf Butt kept his side in the game, including a one-on-one save to deny Andre Leipold.

The Philippines’ pressure told in the 24th minute. After Mohibullah’s header struck the bar, the ball broke loose and Sandro Reyes pounced on the rebound to score. Eight minutes later, Mohammad Fazal was penalised for handball in the box, and Bjorn Kristensen converted the penalty to make it 2-0.

Solano’s changes turn the game

Coach Nolberto Solano made two changes at the interval, bringing on Ali Agha and Hayyan Khattak, and the effect was immediate.

Two minutes into the second half, Ali Akbar collected a pass from Abdullah Iqbal on the left, beat a defender and fired the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Kevin Ray Mendoza. It was his first international goal.

Pakistan kept coming. Abdul Samad Arshad won possession on the right, drove into the box, cut inside and finished calmly past Mendoza to make it 2-2.

The Shaheens pushed for a winner until the final whistle, but the Philippines held firm and both sides settled for a point.

Debuts and firsts

• First goals: Pakistan’s first goals of the tournament, after the 4-0 loss to Thailand
• First point: The draw gave the Shaheens their first point in Group B of Division I
• Maiden goal: Ali Akbar Khan’s strike was his first for his country
• Debuts: Abdul Rehman and Abdul Samad Khan made their international debuts

Why it matters

For a team ranked 198th, taking a point off a side ranked more than 60 places higher, after trailing 2-0 at half-time, is a notable result, and it came only days after a heavy opening defeat.

What’s next

Pakistan play Vietnam in their final Group B match in Jakarta on October 2. Read our reports on the 4-0 defeat to Thailand and on Pakistan’s campaign at the Asian Games.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn and The Express Tribune.