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Afghanistan

Afghanistan Beats Pakistan In First Soccer Match In 30 Years

Afghan fans celebrate following their team's second goal against Pakistan at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20.
1/12 Afghan fans celebrate following their team's second goal against Pakistan at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Spectators cheer during the start of the match.
2/12 Spectators cheer during the start of the match.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Afghan soccer fans wait to enter the stadium in Kabul.
3/12 Afghan soccer fans wait to enter the stadium in Kabul.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Pakistan's goalkeeper Saqib Hanif (L).
4/12 Pakistan's goalkeeper Saqib Hanif (L).
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Afghan national players (in red) compete with Pakistani players during the match in Kabul.
5/12 Afghan national players (in red) compete with Pakistani players during the match in Kabul.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Afghan fans celebrate their team's first goal, scored by Sanjar Ahmadi.
6/12 Afghan fans celebrate their team's first goal, scored by Sanjar Ahmadi.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
An Afghan policeman keeps watch as spectators watch the game.
7/12 An Afghan policeman keeps watch as spectators watch the game.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Some Afghan spectators painted their faces with the colors of the national flag.
8/12 Some Afghan spectators painted their faces with the colors of the national flag.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Spectators cheer during the match.
9/12 Spectators cheer during the match.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
An Afghan player (in red) heads the ball away during the match.
10/12 An Afghan player (in red) heads the ball away during the match.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Pakistan's goalkeeper Saqib Hanif (L).
11/12 Pakistan's goalkeeper Saqib Hanif (L).
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
Afghan footballers celebrate their 3-0 win in a friendly against Pakistan at the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) stadium in Kabul. Afghanistan was hosting its first international soccer match in a decade. Organizers are hoping the FIFA-sanctioned match will ease cross-border tensions between the two neighbors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> It&#39;s the first meeting in 36 years for the two nations&#39; national soccer teams.</span>
12/12 Afghan footballers celebrate their 3-0 win in a friendly against Pakistan at the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) stadium in Kabul. Afghanistan was hosting its first international soccer match in a decade. Organizers are hoping the FIFA-sanctioned match will ease cross-border tensions between the two neighbors. It's the first meeting in 36 years for the two nations' national soccer teams.
Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years. The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul on August 20. The Afghan team sparked rowdy celebrations after securing the convincing win over its archrival. (10 PHOTOS)
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Afghanistan has won a friendly soccer match 3-0 against Pakistan, the first such contest between the countries in more than 30 years.

Sanjar Ahmadi scored the first goal 19 minutes into the first half.

Arash Asifi and Hasmatullah Barakzai scored the second and third goals in the second half.

The 6,000-seat stadium sold out within one hour of the tickets going on sale for the match, with tickets costing between $2 and $5.

The head of Afghanistan's soccer federation, Karamudeen Karim, said the contest was "a positive signal of normalcy in Afghanistan."

The two neighbors last played each other in 1976 when Afghanistan won 1-0.

The Soviet invasion, civil war, and Taliban rule prevented the countries from meeting again for a rematch.

With reporting by dpa
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