ISLAMABAD: Pakistan went down fighting against higher-ranked Côte d’Ivoire, ultimately ending with a 2-0 loss as they concluded their FIFA Women Series campaign at the Alassane Outtara Stadium in Abidjan.
The loss meant that Pakistan, who had beaten Turks and Caicos 8-0 for a record triumph before losing 1-0 to Mauritania, ended third. Pakistan had kept Côte d’Ivoire, who had put eight past Mauritania and 15 past the Turks and Caicos, at bay for the first half an hour, the defence marshalled superbly by Kayla Siddiqi and Isra Khan reducing the hosts to shots from distance.
Once they got into the box, goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj stood tall while full-backs Anmol Hira and Karissa Jivraj cut off the crosses. The Ivorians finally broke through in the 39th minute when Ami Diallo headed in after several ricochets from a corner.
Buoyed by the opening goal, the hosts came again at Pakistan with Isra producing an excellent goalline clearance. Côte d’Ivoire kept coming but Pakistan’s defence held firm until the 69th when Habibou Oudraogo headed in from a corner to make it 2-0.
Minutes later Pakistan were reduced to 10 players when Anmol handled the ball on the goalline and was shown a straight red. Zeeyana however made a superb save to deny Bernadette Amani from the spot. Zeeyana was at it again, denying another goal in the 83rd with her outstretched left foot and then dived to her right to stop a free-kick in an immense contribution for her side.
