Pakistan endured a punishing night at Jinnah Stadium on Tuesday, falling 0–5 to Syria after a second-half collapse that underlined the gulf in experience between the two sides in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
A Brave Start and a New Face in Goal
With regular first-choice goalkeeper Yousuf Butt absent, Adam Najeeb Khan was handed his senior international debut. The starting XI also saw Abdul Samad Arshad and Rahis Nabi return to the lineup as Pakistan looked to close their qualification campaign on a positive note. Pakistan began brightly. For the opening 20 minutes, they pressed with energy, kept their defensive shape intact, and even carried threat in transition. At 24 minutes, the score remained 0–0, and the hosts looked settled. But their plans unravelled early when defender Syed Abdullah Shah was forced off with an injury. With no like-for-like defensive option available, striker Umar Nawaz came on for an unexpected and challenging debut in an improvised back-line structure.
Syria Strike First
Syria, already qualified as Group E winners, grew steadily into the match. Their pressure told in the 34th minute when Al-Hallak broke through and finished clinically to give the visitors a 1–0 lead. It was the one clear chance they needed, and they carried that advantage into halftime. For Pakistan, the 0–1 scoreline at the break still left everything to play for. The team’s effort and discipline in the first period offered hope, though their defensive reshuffle after Abdullah Shah’s injury continued to cast a shadow.
Second Half: The Game Breaks Open
Any hopes of a fightback faded quickly once the match resumed. Syria doubled their lead early in the second half, punishing Pakistan’s inability to clear their lines and stretching the back four repeatedly. Nolberto Solano responded with changes on the hour mark, sending on Kaleemullah and Alamgir Ghazi for Otis Khan and Rahis Nabi in an attempt to inject experience and attacking drive. Yet the momentum remained firmly with Syria. In the 71st minute, Ali Uzair Gujjar replaced Ahmed Faraz Gulzari, but by then Pakistan were hanging on rather than building forward play.
A Harsh Final Stretch
The final 15 minutes turned brutal. Syria struck in the 78th minute to make it 3–0, then added a fourth in the 90th. Deep into stoppage time, they capped their dominance with a fifth — sealing a painful 0–5 scoreline that did not fully reflect Pakistan’s competitive first hour but brutally exposed their lack of depth and cohesion.
Lessons and the Road Ahead
While the defeat is heavy, the story of the match was Pakistan’s instability after the injury to Abdullah Shah and the absence of senior figures — most notably Yousuf Butt, whose experience continues to be invaluable. Syria, for their part, marched on professionally, extending their perfect run in Group E and underlining why they were the first side to secure qualification. For Pakistan, the campaign ends with hard lessons. The effort was there, the structure held for long spells, but lapses and inexperience at this level remain costly. The next phase will demand better squad depth, clearer defensive cover, and stability in key positions.
About the author
Mohsin Rasheed is the founder & 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]. For official queries please write us at [email protected]