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| June 2, 2003 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1424 |
Saleem, Aftab strike for Hyderi
KARACHI, June 1: Hyderi Baloch became leaders of the first round after a deserved 2-0 victory over Aga Khan Gymkhana on Sunday in the KASB Premier League thanks to strikes from Mohammad Saleem and Aftab Ahmad.
Agha Khan Gymkhana received the first jolt when Aftab squared a perfect pass into the path of Saleem who struck a lightning right-foot shot into the far corner in the 5th minute of the game at Aga Khan Gymkhana grassy field.
Hyderi Baloch could have moved ahead but rued the missed chance when Shakeel Ahmad’s 16-yard drive went wide off the target a minute before the break.
The lanky Fareed Ahmad threatened the opposition three minutes into the second session with a lob from the edge of the box which was well taken by Aga Khan Gymkhana goalkeeper Iqbal Ghani.
Hyderi Baloch, one of the favourites, pinned their rivals down in their own half and cleverly set up shots at goal wrecking havoc in the Aga Khan Gymkhana defences.
Fareed once again tested Iqbal in the 42nd minute when he dribbled past two defenders to give Aftab a measured pass but the custodian was vigilant under the bar.
Ali Mohammad of Hyderi Baloch could have slammed what would have been the goal of the match in the 47th minute which saw his swinging right-foot drive missing the target because of heavy winds and rattling the right upright.
Following a Fareed shot which blazed over the bar Aga Khan Gymkhana pressed for an equaliser through Mohammad Aslam who lobbed high above the crossbar.
Nimble-footed Aftab, the player of the match, finally blew away whatever chances Aga Khan Gymkhana had when he made a spurt from the midfield through the entire defence and fired home from sharp angle in the dying moments of the game.
Baloch Mohammadan trailed behind the leaders when they shocked formidable Lyari Labour Welfare Centre (LLWC) 2-1 at CDGK ground.
Baba Ismail’s 14th-minute strike gave Baloch Mohammadan a perfect start, while Mohammad Akram compounded LLWC’s miseries when he doubled the lead three minutes later.
LLWC retaliated after the lemons by reducing the margin through the player of the match Liaquat Naz in the 49th minute. Baloch Mohammadan, however, kept the lead intact till the end to finish at second place on the points table.
Karachi United, the hosts of the 10-team league, are placed at third place after a 1-0 won over Pakistan Petroleum in the opener. The round starts from June 5.
Second round fixtures:
June 5: Hyderi Baloch v Bhutta Mohammadan at Gabol Park.
June 6: Baloch Mohammadan v Nawab XI at CDGK.
June 7: Usmanabad Union v LLWC at Usmanabad Stadium.
June 8: Mekran Sports v Pakistan Petroleum at CDGK; Aga Khan Gymkhana v Karachi United at Aga Khan Gymkhana.
Points table after first round (teams, played, won, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
Hyderi Baloch 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Baloch Mohammadan 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
Karachi United 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Mekran Sports 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Usmanabad Union 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Bhutta Mohammadan 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
Nawab XI 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
Pakistan Petroleum 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
LLWC 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
Aga Khan Gymkhana 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
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