Iraq Thrash Pakistan 8-1 in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

Iraq delivered a crushing blow to Pakistan in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers opener, securing a dominant 8-1 victory at the Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

⚽ First Half: Pakistan Showed Resistance

For much of the opening 45 minutes, Pakistan’s defense stood strong despite relentless Iraqi pressure. The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute when Amoori Faisal converted a penalty to put Iraq 1-0 ahead. At halftime, Pakistan were still in the contest, trailing by a single goal.

🔥 Second Half: Iraq Unstoppable

Just minutes after the restart, Ali Jasim doubled Iraq’s lead in the 48th minute. Pakistan responded bravely as McKeal Abdullah struck in the 61st minute, reducing the deficit to 2-1 and sparking brief hope for the Men in Green.

However, Iraq’s response was merciless. Jasim completed his brace shortly after, making it 3-1 and then 4-1. With Pakistan’s defense collapsing, A. Aiad, Dhulfiqar Younis Al-Imari, and Ali Sadiq each added goals in the closing stages. By stoppage time, the scoreboard displayed a staggering 8-1 defeat for Pakistan.

📊 Group G Standings & Next Fixtures

The emphatic win puts Iraq at the top of Group G, giving them a commanding position in the race to qualify for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan, on the other hand, sit bottom of the group and face an uphill battle to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Next Match: Pakistan vs Cambodia – September 6
Final Group Match: Pakistan vs Oman – September 9

🏆 Final Thoughts

The result highlights the gulf in quality between the two sides. While Pakistan showed resilience in the first half, their second-half collapse allowed Iraq to run riot. For Pakistan, the focus now shifts to regrouping quickly ahead of two must-win fixtures, while Iraq look set to continue their march toward qualification.