ֱ snatch last-gasp win over Pakistan in women’s football tournament 

Pakistani women footballers (in white) play ֱ at the King Fahd Stadium in Taif city, ֱ on September 24, 2023. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Football Federation)
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  • Saudi forward Al-Bandari Hawsawi scores in the 95th minute to hand ֱ 1-0 win over Pakistan
  • Pakistan, who held Malaysia to a goalless draw last week, are out of the race for the semifinals after the loss

ISLAMABAD: ֱ snatched a last-gasp win over Pakistan in the Women’s International Friendly Tournament late Sunday, beating the South Asian side 1-0 to end their hopes of reaching the semifinals of the six-nation tournament. 

Pakistan locked horns with ֱ at the King Fahd Stadium in Taif city for a friendly match of the tournament, which also features Bhutan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Bhutan. Pakistan’s defeat at the hands of hosts ֱ came after the South Asian side held Malaysia to a goalless draw in their first fixture of the tournament on Thursday. 

“Pakistan lose 1-0 to hosts ֱ,” the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said in a statement. “The national team is out of the race for the semifinals.”

In what was a close contest, Pakistan held ֱ to a goalless draw till the 95th minute before Saudi forward Al-Bandari Hawsawi made use of an impressive through ball to net the ball past the Pakistani goalkeeper. 

Prior to this tournament, Pakistan women’s football team traveled to ֱ in January this year to participate in a four-nation tournament that also featured Comoros and Mauritius. The South Asian side beat Comoros before losing to Mauritius 2-1 but ended the tournament on an impressive note, drawing 1-1 against a formidable ֱ. The Kingdom ended up winning the tournament.