Kuwait City: Pakistan showed resilience and fighting spirit to hold Afghanistan to a 1–1 draw in their 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier in Kuwait on Wednesday evening. After going behind early to a Mahboob Hanifi strike, Pakistan equalised through Etzaz Hussain midway through the first half to earn a deserved share of the spoils in a tightly contested encounter. This result follows a goalless draw between the two sides in Islamabad on October 9, extending Pakistan’s unbeaten run against their regional rivals to two matches.
Early Blow, Quick Response
The qualifier match began in lively fashion, with Afghanistan taking the lead inside just five minutes. Winger Mahboob Hanifi capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot past Pakistan’s goalkeeper, putting the Afghans 1–0 ahead and setting an intense tone for the game.
Pakistan, however, refused to be rattled. Showing more control in midfield and greater composure in possession, Nolberto Solano’s men began to dictate the tempo. The equaliser came from a moment of intelligent link-up play on the left flank. Muhammad Fazal found Otis Khan in space, and the winger rolled the ball forward before cutting it inside to Etzaz Hussain, who had drifted towards the edge of the six-yard box. Despite being at a tight angle near the byline, Etzaz showed great composure to slot the ball into the net, a fine finish in only his second appearance for Pakistan.
Etzaz, who continues to establish himself as a vital figure for Pakistan, later picked up a yellow card in first-half stoppage time, but his influence remained crucial throughout.
Tactical Adjustments and Second-Half Battle
Nolberto made two changes at the break, bringing on Alamgir Ghazi and Junaid Shah for Abdullah and Fazal. The fresh legs injected energy into Pakistan’s attacking transitions, while the defensive unit held firm against Afghanistan’s counterattacks. Both sides traded half-chances in the second period, but neither could find the breakthrough. Pakistan introduced further substitutions around the 80th minute in a bid to push for a winner, yet the Afghan backline stood tall.
The intensity and physicality increased as the game wore on, with both teams showing determination but also discipline to avoid costly mistakes.
Post-Match Reflections
Although official post-match statements were not immediately available, the mood in the Pakistan camp was one of quiet satisfaction. The result reflected both progress and persistence — hallmarks of a team still finding its rhythm under Nolberto but showing signs of maturity and cohesion.
Fans online praised the side’s effort, noting the improved team chemistry and commitment compared to previous fixtures.
With two consecutive draws against Afghanistan, Pakistan continue to build momentum in their international campaign. While a win remains elusive, the performances suggest growing confidence and tactical stability heading into future competitions.
For Afghanistan, the draw extends their unbeaten streak but also highlights missed chances to capitalise on early leads.
Both teams leave Kuwait with valuable lessons — Pakistan, in particular, with a renewed sense of belief and identity on the international stage.
Final Score: Pakistan 1–1 Afghanistan
Goals: Hanifi 5’ (AFG), Etzaz Hussain 29’ (PAK)
About the author: Mohsin Rasheed is the Chief Editor of Footballer.pk, Pakistan’s leading football media platform. He oversees editorial content and regularly contributes match reports, player profiles, and tactical features. You can reach him at [email protected]