May 12, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

KARACHI, May 11: Imran Niazi scored twice in the second half as Wapda moved into the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over KESC in the National Challenge Cup soccer at the CDGK Stadium on Sunday.

Wapda, who were far supe-

rior in the quarter-final clash than a disjointed KESC side, could not find the opening in the first half, but finally got it in the 52nd minute when Imran beat KESC goalkeeper Sajid Hussain to find the cage with a low shot.

KESC were either usually pinned down in their own half most of the time or seen battling, while seldom going on the offensive against a solid Wapda defence which never let the losers come near the goal area.

On the other hand, Wapda were constantly making attacking moves to double the lead, but were not as impressive as they should have been being the national champions.

But a sudden wave of attacks from Wapda compounded miseries for KESC as a good three-touch move really knocked the life out of the losing side.

It was just a minute after the opening goal that Imran generated a move and assisted Zulfiqar Ali who squared a pass for his captain Arif Mahmood but his effort was saved by KESC goalie Sajid.

Zulfiqar might have extended the lead in the 57th minute following an Arif cross but was hacked by a KESC defender just when he was shaping to shoot.

After almost 20 minutes of dull play which saw the two sides mostly making unsuccessful, half-hearted attempts, Wapda’s Khuda Bukhsh suddenly created a spark in the 80th minute when he slammed a header but missed from up close after an Imran cross. Arif once again took control from within the box only to see his good drive being saved by defenders just two minutes later.

KESC only started their real efforts to restore parity at the fag end of the game. But it was too late as all they could do was to put a little pressure on the opposition.

KESC’s Mohammad Moosa set up Aurangzaib who wast-ed the chance in the 84th minute.

While KESC’s efforts went in vain, Wapda in a counter-attack grabbed their second in the 85th minute as Imran brilliantly dodged past the tackling defenders to slot home from just within the box while custodian Sajid was beaten.

Zakir Hussain of Wapda was given a yellow card — the only of the match — for leaving the pitch without permission in the 90th minute.

In another quarter-final, National Bank progressed to the last-four round with a 3-1 rout

of PWD at the Peoples Sports Complex.

The bankers opened their

account when Yasir Sabir headed home on an 11th-minute corner.

Farooq Shah enhanced the lead in the 68th minute, while midfielder Jameel Ahmad sealed the fate of the match off an Akhtar Rasool crosss in the 80th minute.

PWD got their consolation goal through Mohammad Naveed six minutes later.

After Monday’s rest day, NBP play Navy at the Peoples

Sports Complex and Wapda will challenge KRL at the CDGK Stadium in Tuesday’s semi-finals.