![Pakistan win bronze in Street Child Football WC [The Nation]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-nation.jpg "Pakistan win bronze in Street Child Football WC [The Nation]")
Sports Reporter – The Nation
LAHORE/KARACHI – Pakistan team edged out the United States of America (USA) 3-2 to secure the third spot in the Street Child Football World Cup 2014. According to information made available here on Sunday, the green shirts played well against the US and beat them on penalty kicks in a tough and sensational contest. Pakistani boys were leading 2-1 at the end of the first half but the US team leveled the score 2-2 in the second half. Extra-time was awarded but both sides were unable to score, forcing the game into penalties.
Pakistan won the match on penalty-kicks, which goal-keeper and captain Sameer Ahmed proved to be a wall for the opponents. The teenager blocked at least two attempts by the US strikers in full-time, while he stopped one penalty-kick during the shoot-out.
Earlier on Saturday, Burundi ended the Pakistan team winning streak after beating the green shirts in the closely-contested semi-final. Earlier, they beat Philippines in the penalty shoot out to reach the semis while previously, they had defeated Kenya 2-0 in their second match of the tournament after defeating defending champions India 13-0 in the opener.
Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Peoples Party patron-in-chief, has congratulated Pakistan street children’s team for making serial victories up to the semi-finals in Street Child Football World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“They have rekindled our hope and reinforced the confidence among the children and youth of Pakistan about the great potential they have as world’s nation having largest majority of youth,” he said in a congratulatory message to Pakistan’s street children team and its management.
Bilawal said that he had a surprise for Pakistani team and assured that he would always in the front to project and promote the nation’s youth in every sphere of life. “Steps will be taken to encourage football in Sindh, especially Karachi where the world’s great footballers are awaiting their discovery by sports authorities.”
Pakistani team defeated three countries in matches up to the semi-final in Street Child Football World Cup and won hearts back home.
The PPP patron-in-chief also appreciated Azad Foundation, which led the Pakistani team to World Cup, for its cooperation to Sindh government in implementing Sindh Child Act, Juvenile Justice Ordinance, Sindh Child Protection Authority Act in the province. It may be mentioned here that Azad Foundation has declared Social Welfare Department of People’s government in Sindh as one of its five friends on its website.