Pakistan thrash Maldives 3-0 to claim first SAFF win

Pakistan claimed their first victory at the SAFF Championship 2026 after defeating the Maldives 3-0 in their second Group B encounter at the National Football Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.

Najeebullah Bettani starred with two goals, while McKeal Aroon Abdullah also found the net as Pakistan delivered an impressive performance.

The Shaheens started aggressively and took the lead in the fourth minute after earning a penalty. Abdullah stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to give Pakistan an early advantage.

Pakistan continued to control the match, putting pressure on the Maldivian defence and creating further scoring opportunities. Their dominance resulted in a second goal when Bettani struck to increase the lead.

The forward completed his brace before half-time, making it 3-0 and putting Pakistan firmly in control of the contest.

The Maldives struggled to threaten Pakistan’s defence during the opening half, with the Shaheens maintaining their shape and limiting their opponents’ attacking chances.

Pakistan remained organised after the break and successfully protected their advantage. Neither team managed to score in the second half, as the match ended with a comfortable three-goal victory for the Shaheens.

The result marked a positive response from Pakistan following their 3-2 loss to arch-rivals India in their opening Group B fixture.

India had taken control through Suhail Ahmad Bhat’s two early goals, but Pakistan fought back strongly in the closing stages. Despite their late efforts, the Shaheens could not prevent India from securing the victory.