February 7, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 8, 1427

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LAHORE, Feb 6: Midfielder Mohammad Asif grabbed the match-winner in extra time and helped Punjab lift the national U-14 football championship, edging past Fata 2-1 in final at Punjab Stadium on Monday.

After a goalless first half the final was evenly poised at 1-1 at the end of 60-minute regulation time.

Fata broke the ice when Abdul Wahid struck a field goal in the 35th minute. Wahid with his uncanny move initiated from the centre line, with the assistance from Asad Ullah to beat Punjab’s goalkeeper Zaid Arif.

Punjab after squandering several opportunities to get on level terms, however, were finally rewarded when skipper Muhammad Bilal found the net six minutes before the schedule time to take the final to extra-time.

Fata’s Wahid and Asadullah missed chances to put their team ahead while Nauman Aftab also failed to connect the ball properly for Punjab.

Hosts were rewarded when Asif beat Fata goalkeeper Nasar Ali which eventually proved match-winner.

Punjab received a trophy and Rs 30,000 while Fata were richer by Rs 20,000.

Earlier, Sindh, the defending champions, brushed aside Islamabad 4-0 to grab third place and received Rs10,000. Junaid Qadir struck twice in the 9th and 44th minute.

Other Sind scorers were Muhammad Hammad (38th minute) and Bilal Nazar (54th minute).

The six-day show will help PFF pick two Pakistan U-14 teams for AFC U-14 Group-C (South) Festival to be held in Islamabad from April 21 to 30.

Other countries are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal. Imran Abdullah of Sindh, Usman Manzoor and Nauman Aftab (Punjab) were joint top scorers with four goals each.

Teams:

Punjab: Zaif Arif (goalkeeper), Wajid Ishfaq, Ali Raza, Haider Ali, Muhammad Waqar, Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Asif, Nauman Aftab, Muhammad Luqman, Usman Manzoor, Usama Bilal, Kamil Cheema, Zeeshan Butt, Nadeem Shehzad, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Moaz.

Fata: Nasar Ali (goalkeeper), Waheed Ullah, Hazrat Hussain, Haseeb Ullah, Hizbullah, Asad Ullah, Abdul Wahid, Wahid Ullah, Maratud Din, Ahsan, Majid, Adnan, Ahmad, Ali Ahmad Khan.

APP ADDS from Islamabad: A representative of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Monday reviewed arrangements for holding the Asian under-14 football festival.

Muhammad Hashim of AFC visited Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements for the Asian U-14 Football Festival to be held at this venue from April 21 to 27.

AFC had detailed Hashim, Development Officer (South Asia) to visit the venue. He inspected the facilities along with Dr. Fazalur Rehman and Muhammad Irfan Niazi, senior vice-president, Islamabad Football Association.

He also held meeting with Brig. Arif Mahmud Siddiqui, Director General, Pakistan Sports Board.