Pakistan’s U-23 football team endured a heavy 8-1 defeat at the hands of Iraq in their opening fixture of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The result has raised serious concerns about the team’s defensive structure and overall preparedness.

The match began with a resilient defensive effort from Pakistan, who managed to hold off Iraq for much of the first half, conceding just one goal. However, the second half exposed major gaps in their game. Striker Mikael Abdullah gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope by converting a penalty in the 61st minute, bringing the score to 2-1 and briefly lifting the team’s morale.

A member of the coaching staff, speaking off the record, said,
“We held our shape well in the first half, but after the second goal, the boys lost focus and momentum. The pressure mounted quickly, and we couldn’t recover.”

Meanwhile, fans on social media expressed disappointment, with one user writing:

Following the penalty conversion, Iraq responded with unrelenting pace and precision. In the final 30 minutes, they dominated possession and exposed Pakistan’s defensive frailties, scoring six unanswered goals. Despite some isolated efforts to push forward, Pakistan failed to regain control, and the score line quickly escalated.

The only positive takeaway for Pakistan was Mikael Abdullah’s composed penalty, which saved the team from a clean sweep. However, the defeat has left players and coaching staff under pressure ahead of their next group match.
Pakistan’s next challenge comes on September 6, when they face host nation Cambodia a must-win fixture if they hope to remain competitive in the group.