RAWALPINDI, Aug 1: A 50th minute own-goal put Wapda into the final of tirst National football Challenge Cup on Monday at Army Sports Complex. The second semifinal will be played at the same venue between Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) on Tuesday. The final is scheduled for Friday.

Army tried long-range attempts in the first half through left-full Muhammad Imran who also saw one of his passes in the 28th minute wasted by winger Muhammad Shabbir. The best chance of the first half came in the 37th minute but Wapda’s international striker Arif Mehmood failed to beat onrushing goalkeeper and Pakistani skipper Jaffar Khan.

The final minute of the half saw Arif, who scored a dazzling goal in last June’s India-Pakistan series at Lahore, put the ball wide of right post. Wapda had upper hand in initial stages of the second half but Arif, who had a bad day, failed to capitalize on the pass from midfielder Zahid Hameed in the 48th minute.

But two minutes later, Wapda received a gifted goal when their right fullback Naveed Akram, gold medallist of last year’s SAF Games, curled a high ball into Army’s penalty-area.

It created panic among Army’s defenders and Umer Daraz steered the ball into right corner, past his own helpless keeper Jaffar. Army tried all out for equalizer but substitute Irfan, in the 61st minute, wasted Imran Hussain’s pass.

Wapda could have been 2-0 up in the next minute but Arif Mehmood, who evaded off-side trap, failed to beat Jaffar who was at his mercy. Zulfiqar Shah turned the rebound in but referee Imtiaz Shah rightly ruled Shah off-side.

Seven minutes from time, Army forced another chance but Irfan wasted the opportunity.—PPI