Stunning goals add gloss as quarter-finals line-up decided at Challenge Cup
There were some stunning goals as the group stage ended at the National Challenge Cup with Mamsons, Pakistan Air Force, Wapda, Pakistan Army and SA Gardens completing the quarter-finals lineup.
Two stunning goals lit up the action with Ali Raza scoring acrobatically for Wapda while Army’s Mohammad Rafay scored with a first-time volley from a corner.
Group ‘A’ — Mamsons 0-0 Navy (KPT Stadium)
Navy, needing a win to advance, were on the offensive from the start, forcing two saves from Mamsons goalkeeper Usman Ali, while firing several shots wide off the target.
Mamsons needed only a draw to go seal top spot in the group and they held firm in a cagey second half, closing the spaces for Navy to find the goals they needed.
“It was a tough match,” said player-of-the-match Abdul Samad of Mamsons. “Initially, we wanted to see how Navy would play but we eventually settled down and we’re happy to clinch top spot in the group.”
Mamsons advance to a quarter-final against Group ‘B’ runners-up Khan Research Laboratories, and Samad was looking forward to it.
“It’s a big match for us and we’re going to try our best,” he said.
Group ‘B’ — Wapda 5-0 Hazara Coal (KMC Stadium)
Ali Raza was the hat-trick hero as Wapda advanced with an emphatic victory, clinching top spot in the group on goal difference.
In a fast start, Ali put Wapda 2-0 up by the sixth minute; first converting from a pass in the fourth before netting with a stunning overhead kick from a corner.
Mohammad Adeel struck from a low cross to make it 3-0 in added time at the end of the first half and it was 4-0 immediately after the restart as Ahmed Faheem tapped in.
Ali completed his hat-trick in the 53rd, scoring after a melee in the box to seal top spot for his side ahead of KRL and a quarter-final against Group ‘A’ runners-up Pakistan Air Force.
“Once I got the first goal, I wanted to score as many goals as I could today,” said Ali.
Group ‘C’ — Army – International Supply Company (KPT Stadium)
Army needed only a draw to go through to the last eight alongside International Supply Company but advanced as group winners with a commanding win.
They took the lead in the 13th minute when Mohammad Rafay volleyed in a cross from the right.
“When the ball came to me, I only had eyes for the goal and I’m glad the connection was good,” said Rafay of his stunning strike.
Army had a golden chance to extend their lead in the 52nd when they were awarded a penalty but Akhtar Ali dived to his right and pushed Afzaal’s spot-kick onto the post.
The second goal, however, did arrive when Subhan Karim netted on a breakaway in the 61st and took Army into a quarter-final against Nimso.
Group ‘D’ — SA Gardens 1-0 Nimso (KMC Stadium)
An intense start saw SA Gardens go down to 10 men when Ali Khan Niazi was sent off in the eighth minute.
But SA Gardens prevailed thanks to Shahzeb Nawaz’s 53rd-minute header on a counterattack and took top spot in the group ahead of Nimso.
SA Gardens next face International Supply Company in the quarter-finals.
“We needed to put in a lot of effort after going down to 10 men,” said Shahzeb. “Thankfully we won and went through.”
Quarter-final schedule (all fixtures at KPT Stadium):
Tuesday, Feb 10:
Mamsons v Khan Research Laboratories (12:00pm)
Wapda v Pakistan Air Force (3:00pm)
Wednesday, Feb 11:
Army v Nimso (12:00pm)
SA Gardens v International Supply Co (3:00pm)