By Faizan Lakhani | July 5, 2025

KARACHI: Pakistan’s national women’s football team ended their AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifying campaign on a positive note, securing a 2-1 victory against Kyrgyzstan at the Sport Centre Kelapa Dua Stadium in Tangerang on Saturday.

Although Pakistan fell short of qualifying for the main tournament, their performance in the qualifiers marked a clear step forward. The team claimed two wins in three matches — all against higher-ranked opponents — signaling steady progress and growing potential.

The star of the match was forward Maryam Mahmood, who struck twice in the first half to give Pakistan the lead. She found the net in just the fourth minute, then calmly converted a penalty in the 26th to put Pakistan two goals ahead.

Kyrgyzstan managed to respond with a goal from Alina Gaparova in the 69th minute, but Pakistan maintained their composure and held onto their lead until the final whistle.

The stats told the story of Pakistan’s commanding display: 16 shots to Kyrgyzstan’s 10, eight corner kicks to four, and 48 dangerous attacks throughout the match — all signs of their aggressive, attacking strategy.

Ranked 157th in the FIFA world rankings, Pakistan’s wins over Kyrgyzstan (ranked 136th) and Indonesia (ranked 95th) were particularly encouraging. Despite a tough 0-8 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their opening game, the team rebounded strongly.

Their overall showing in the qualifiers offered a glimpse into a promising future for women’s football in Pakistan, with performances that reflect growth, resilience, and the potential to rise further on the international stage.