May 09, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 3, 1429

KARACHI, May 8: Substitute Ayub Taj struck a late match-winner to help 10-man Habib Bank reach National Challenge Cup soccer quarter-finals after a 2-1 victory over Sindh Government Press (SGP) at the CDGK Stadium on Thursday.

Khayal Mohammad headed home just two minutes before the halftime whistle to give bankers the lead. HBL were reduced to 10 players in the 51st minute when Jameel Ahmad got his second yellow card.

The bankers paid the price for the offence as SGP took advantage of the situation and pulled the leveller through Ali Murad in the 67th minute.

HBL, however, recovered and moved into the last-eight round with an 83rd-minute Jameel strike.

KPT became group ‘C’ champions after a 1-1 draw with PIA who crashed out of the competition at the Peoples Sports Complex in a match which saw red cards being flashed for both sides.

PIA, who were being managed and coached by former Pakistan coach Tariq Lutfi, could not even reach quarter-finals mainly because of lack of firepower, determination and coordination.Only Shakir Lashari was PIA’s livewire, while the remaining outfit was nothing more than a disjointed lot struggling against an unimpressive KPT.

Referee Imtiaz Ali had a busy day as he showed no less then 10 yellow cards, five each to both sides, for rough play and unsporting behaviour.

Although PIA opened the scoring through Afzal in the seventh minute, their effort was cancelled out by KPT captain Fareed Majeed seven minutes later.

Shahid Saleem of KPT and PIA’s Abdul Ghaffar were yellow carded in the 23rd minute.

PIA could have moved ahead in the 50th minute but Haji wasted an Adeem Shahzad corner after being was assisted by Nasrullah.

Ali Ehsan’s volley kick was well taken by KPT goalkeeper Abdul Ghani eight minutes later. Waseem Ahmad of KPT was booked in the 57th minute for the quarter-final, while Ali Ehsan of PIA and Zafar Majeed of KPT were also yellow-carded.

While KPT were having difficulty in keeping the possession, they were even lacking in basic skills such as passes and tackling.

In a rare attack, KPT’s Shahid sent a good cross only to see PIA goalkeeper Bilal collecting the ball.

To make matters worse, KPT were reduced to 10 players after Naseer Ahmad collected his second yellow in the 71st minute. Just a minute later, PIA also had 10 players on the field after Afzal also received marching orders following his second yellow.

Shakir, who had been working hard down the right, sent a drive from almost 40 yards which threatened KPT but missed the target.

KPT came near scoring their second but a blundering Fareed returned the pass on to Abdul Rahman whose effort was well taken by Bilal. Haji got the last yellow of the game in the 80th minute.

In the absence of stretcher, Waseem had to limp off the pitch in the 85th minute after being injured. It was again Shakir who put pressure in the injury time through an 18-yard drive which sailed over the bar.

Friday’s fixture: Steel Mills v PWD at Peoples Sports Complex.