MALE, Maldives: Pakistan ended a 32-year drought against the Maldives in emphatic fashion on Thursday, storming to a 3–0 victory that not only rewrote the record books but breathed new life into their Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament campaign at the National Football Stadium.
The Green Shirts’ commanding win marked their first triumph over the Maldives since a 2–0 victory in the 1991 South Asian Games final, while ending a broader winless run in international football dating back to October 2023, when they edged Cambodia 1–0 in FIFA World Cup qualifying.
🚨 FULL TIME
🇵🇰 Pakistan 3–0 Maldives 🇲🇻
Pakistan move top of the table with 4 points, while hosts Maldives are out of the tournament.
Goalscorers:
⚽ Umar Nawaz
⚽ Harun Hamid
⚽ Abdul Salam pic.twitter.com/QcYvH1upUl— U bad (@ubad433) June 4, 2026
After a goalless first half that offered little hint of the fireworks to come, Pakistan exploded into life after the break. Forward Umer Nawaz broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, before fellow striker Abdul Samad Arshad doubled the lead in the 84th minute. The rout was complete in the 87th minute, when Harun Hamid added a sensational third to seal a resounding triumph.
Abdul Samad Arshad gets on the scoresheet this time! Pakistan firmly on top against Maldives! 🔥#PakistanFootball pic.twitter.com/gz83CkReNB
— Muneeb Farrukh (@Muneeb313_) June 4, 2026
The result represents a remarkable turnaround for the side, who had opened the tournament on Monday with a frustrating goalless draw against a 10-man Bangladesh, after Bangladesh captain Monjurur Rahman was shown a red card.
3 Goals. Clean Sheet. Finals in sight.
Pakistan dominates the pitch today with a 3–0 win against the Maldives! The road to the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament final just got a whole lot brighter.#PakistanFootball #Shaheens @TheRealPFF pic.twitter.com/XWIEdwL1xS— Rai M. Azlan (@Mussanaf) June 4, 2026
With four points from two matches and a goal difference of +3, Pakistan now sit atop the group standings and have significantly boosted their chances of progressing to the next stage. They will conclude their league fixtures against Afghanistan at the same venue on Sunday.
Pakistan squad
Goalkeepers: Saqib Hanif, Yousuf Butt, Hassan Ali
Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Mohammad Fazal, Abdullah Shah, Easah Suliman, Mohib Afridi, Mamoon Moosa, Ali Niazi, Haris Zeb
Midfielders: Adil Nabi, Rahis Nabi, Alamgir Ghazi, Hayyan Khattak, Ali Agha, Otis Khan
Forwards: Shayak Dost, Umer Nawaz, Ali Shah, Ali Khan, Samad Arshad, Harun Hamid
