KARACHI: The Pakistan U-14 team is on the cusp of making history.

Many of the country’s football coaches believe the country’s U-14 side can compete with the best sides in Asia. On Monday, they have a chance to do exactly that.

Pakistan beat arch-rivals India 2-0 in the Iranian city of Mashad on Sunday in the qualifiers for the inaugural AFC U-14 Championships to set up a clash with the hosts for a place in the finals, set to be held in Uzbekistan next year.

Pakistan need victory against Iran in the final qualifying match with both sides level on nine points in Group ‘D’ with the hosts having a better goal difference.

At the Samen Al Aemeh Stadium on Sunday, Mohammad Ikhlas gave Pakistan the ideal start as he netted after just nine minutes.

It enabled Pakistan to impose their dominance over their arch-rivals and they made sure of victory when Majeed Khan scored in the second-half.

The Pakistan team, who beat Turkmenistan 6-0 and Kyrgyzstan 8-0, now face the biggest test of their credentials and Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi is confident of victory against Iran.

“It is a great victory against India,” he said. “I’m optimistic we can continue to play with the best of our abilities in the next match.”—Sports Reporter