September 05, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 04, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 4: A fine attack and defense by district Malir champions Sharafi Mohammadan, earned them a 1-0 win against Hazara Mohammadan in the KASB Premier League Football (PLF) match at the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Generating a fast pace from the very beginning, Sharafi M’Dan’s attackers comprising their strikers Mohammad Asghar, Abdul Hakeem, Mohammad Baloch and midfielder Abdul Rasheed saw almost all of their efforts being thwarted by Hazara’s goalkeeper Mohammad Irfan.

Still a combination between Mohammad Asghar, Abdul Hakeem and Mohammad Baloch bore fruit in the 43rd minute when M. Baloch sent the ball past goalkeeper Irfan from the left side from inside the box. The score was 1-0 at interval.

Sharafi kept their offensive stance even in the second session but as many as six of their efforts went to waste thanks to the vigilance of goalkeeper Irfan, who was later even declared the man of the match.

The concluding moments saw Hazara’s frontrunners Alam Zeb, Naeem Khan, Aziz Ahmed and midfielder Nasir Ismail trying to equalise through various combinations all of which proved futile in front of the winners’ strong defense, made up of Nazeer Ahmed, Ilahi Bakhsh, Jalees Ahmed, Haider Khan and goalkeeper Wahid Bakhsh, who made sure their side maintained the lead.

As a result of this match, Sharafi, who had levelled their previous encounter with Ghani XI by 2-2, are on four points and Hazara, who had won theirs against Baloch Mujahid by 2-1, are still on three.