A draw that felt like a win. This was what Stephen Constantine was brought in for, and the Englishman is halfway towards helping Pakistan create history.
Pakistan produced a gritty defensive perform-ance to hold Cambodia to a goalless stalemate in the opening leg of their first-round qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the National Olympic Stadium on Thursday, although they still need to end a woeful record in the return leg in Islamabad on Tuesday if they are to advance to the next round.
At least, Pakistan are still very much in the tie. And the performance will raise hopes that if they could snatch a goal in five days’ time — and hold on like they did in the Cambodian capital — for a maiden victory in qualifying for football’s show-piece tournament, they could make the second round where the likes of Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Jordan await in Group ‘G’.
The 60-year-old Constantine, who previously coached India, had spoken about the need to show a “positive attitude and fight” and his players gave it their all to repel Cambodia’s relentless pressure.
There were last-ditch tackles and the players put their bodies on the line with Pakistan also having several half-chances on the counter.
“I think we played extremely well considering we’ve only been together for 12 days,” Constantine, who was only appointed a couple of weeks ago, told reporters.
“The players gave everything and deserved to take something from the game … and we could’ve probably even won it. Cambodia had a lot of the ball but I think we had more clear-cut chances. But it’s only one half, we have another game to come.”
Pakistan had the first attempt on target when Moin Ahmed cut inside from the right and fired a low shot that was parried away by Cambodian goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy on eight minutes before Shayek Dost flashed wide with a first-time shot in the 15th.
Constantine’s side had goalkeeper Yousuf Butt to thank in the second-half when he collected a cross from Yudai Ogawa that seemed destined for the feet of Reung Bunheing and the Denmark-based gloveman then collected Ogawa’s long-range effort late on.—Agencies
