LAHORE, Feb 4: Fata reached national under-14 soccer championship semifinals in a bizarre fashion when they “beat” NWFP on a spin of coin at Punjab Football Stadium on Saturday.
The decision was taken after Fata defeated Wohaib Club 5-1 in a match played again which tied Fata and NWFP at four points each.
The match was played again after a protest by Wohaib Club against Fata for fielding an over-aged player Hikmat.
Wohaib Club had withdrawn protest after it was decided the match would be replayed.
However, NWFP should have been the winners had goal average been considered as they scored four goals and conceded none, while Fata netted five goals and conceded one.
As both sides were tied with four points each after a 5-1 win of Fata, referee inspector Younus Kiyani announced the semifinalists would be decided on a toss of coin, claiming that it was decided by the Pakistan Football Federation.
Waheed Ullah scored three times in Fata’s 5-1 win over Wohaib Club. Wohaib Club took the lead through Jibran in the 14th minute. Hazrat Hussain restored parity two minutes later.
Waheed banged home his first in the 29th minute as Fata led 2-1 at the break. Waheed scored his second in the 33rd minute to make it 3-1.
Hazrat pumped in his second in the 43rd minute to increase the lead 4-1 before Waheed scored in the 60th minute.
Islamabad qualified for the last four stage after Afghan Club were scratched from the competition when they refused to send five players for a medical test to determine the age following a protest by Islamabad on Friday after losing 3-0.
Earlier in the championship, Lahore Grammar School had also lodged a protest against Afghan Club after which six players were removed from the team.
Sindh will meet Fata in the first semifinal at 12.00pm, while Punjab will face Islamabad at 2.30pm in the second semifinal.