Male' Maldives: Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano praised his players' discipline, commitment and belief after a 2-0 victory over Afghanistan secured a place in the final of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament and ended a 64-year wait for a final appearance in a standalone international competition.
Goals from Umar Nawaz and Harun Hamid guided Pakistan to victory on Sunday, ensuring the Shaheens finished top of the four-team standings and advanced to the tournament final on June 10.
The win capped an impressive turnaround for Pakistan, who entered the competition seeking to build momentum after years of inconsistent results. Having already ended a 961-day wait for an international victory with a 3-0 win over Maldives earlier in the tournament, Pakistan only required a draw against Afghanistan to secure qualification for the final.
Instead, Solano's side produced another composed performance against one of the tournament favourites.
Pakistan made the perfect start when Umar Nawaz opened the scoring in the fifth minute. The young forward met a low cross from Shayek Dost and calmly side-footed the ball home from close range to give his side an early advantage.
Harun Hamid later added a second goal to seal the victory and confirm Pakistan's place in the championship match.
The result means Pakistan will face Afghanistan once again in the final after Bangladesh Under-23 drew 1-1 with Maldives in the other group-stage fixture.
Speaking after the match, Solano highlighted the importance of tactical discipline against an Afghanistan side he described as one of the strongest teams in the competition.
"We played against a fantastic team. We know the quality Afghanistan have and we knew that if we gave them space, they could hurt us," Solano said.
"The plan worked again. In international football you have to be 100 percent committed tactically and physically. The players worked extremely hard and I am very pleased with their effort."
The former Peru international said Pakistan arrived in Maldives with ambitions of winning the tournament and believes the team's recent performances can help strengthen football's profile in a country traditionally dominated by cricket.
"We came here with a dream of winning the tournament. It would be fantastic for the national team and for the nation. Pakistan is often seen as a cricket country, but football is growing and we want to give people positive moments through football," he said.
Solano also stressed that his squad should not be burdened by past results, insisting the current generation is focused on creating its own legacy.
"I told the players they do not have to carry history with them. They are the present. They are here to change history," he said.
"We are trying to build a competitive team for important tournaments ahead. Qualifying for the Asian Cup would be a dream for the nation, but we know how difficult that challenge is. Tournaments like this help us gain experience and continue developing."
Pakistan's route to the final has been built on defensive organization and efficiency in front of goal. After opening the competition with a goalless draw against Bangladesh, they defeated hosts Maldives 3-0 before overcoming Afghanistan to finish top of the standings.
The victory against Maldives was particularly significant, ending a 961-day wait for an international win and marking Pakistan's first victory over the Maldives since 1991.
Now, with a place in the final secured, Solano believes the tournament presents an opportunity for Pakistan to take another important step forward.
"We are building something important. The players have shown commitment throughout this tournament, but there is still work to do. Now our focus is on the final and trying to finish the job," he said.
Pakistan and Afghanistan will meet again in the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament final on June 10 at the National Stadium in Malé, with the title on the line and both sides looking to cap successful campaigns with silverware.
