September 01, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 18, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 31: Hot favourites Karachi registered their third consecutive win, beating Fata 3-1 in the 19th National Under-18 Football Championships, being played at the Model Town ground on Friday.

Friday’s victory increased the point tally to nine for Karachi, who have already entered the last eight by defeating hosts Model Town Club (3-2) and Pak Friends (4-1).

Striker Atif drew first blood in the 7th minute. It was his third goal in as many matches. Midfielder Danyal Alvi doubled the lead in the 31st minute and Karachi led 2-0 at the interval.

After resuming of play, Fata reduced the margin in the 67th minute when Karachi’s defender Gul Riaz swept the ball past his own keeper. But striker Muhammad Yaqoob put Karachi further ahead by scoring a goal in the 68th minute to complete the tally.

Earlier on Thursday night, two drawn games in Group ‘C’ provided the NWFP and Afghan Club with an opportunity to earn quarter-final berths. NWFP and Afghan Club played a 1-1 drawn game while Northern Areas (NA) drew with Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 1-1.

NWFP staged a recovery to hold Afghan Club 1-1. Afghan Club took the lead first through striker Mehmood Khan in the 35th minute but opposition striker Owais Khan neutralised their lead in the 61st minute. The single point earned by both the teams, increasing their point tally to four apiece, thus helping them qualify for the last eight.

The clash between Northern Areas and AJK ended in a 1-1 draw.

Striker Tayyab Ali broke the ice in the 23rd minute for AJK, while Nothern Areas restored parity in the second session through Saleem in the 74th minute.