KARACHI: Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) reached the quarter-finals of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Cup on Thursday although both sides were made to work by second-division opponents.
Army overcame Karachi United 2-0 in a bad-tempered clash as they reached the last eight from Group ‘A’ while Karachi Port Trust (KPT) kept themselves in contention with a 3-1 win over Saif Tex.
The top two team from each of the four groups advance to the quarter-finals with United and KPT to fight it out for the other spot from Group ‘A’ in its concluding round of matches on Saturday.
PAF meanwhile confirmed themselves as winners of the three-team Group ‘D’ with their second straight victory when they scraped past Pakistan Railways 2-1.
At the Raiders Football Club Ground in Lahore, four Army players were shown yellow cards as United fought doggedly against their more illustrious opponents.
Despite taking the lead through Najeeb-ur-Rehman just three minutes in, Army were tested by United and only sealed the result when Ansar Abbas scored in the 73rd.
United, who beat KPT 2-0 in their opening match on Tuesday, now face Saif Tex needing a victory to go through to the quarters.
KPT who lie second on a better goal difference need to match United’s result against Saif Tex when they face Army, who will seal top spot in the group with a draw.
Coming off that defeat to United, KPT came charging out against Saif Tex at the Fame Football Club ground in Lahore and took the lead when defender Mohammad Jalil turned in Junaid Qadir’s cross in the second minute.
Saif Tex game themselves a glimmer of hope when Ali Raza equalised in first-half injury time but KPT came back strongly in the second half with their play down the wings eventually undoing their opponents.
A cross from Sarfraz was tucked in by Junaid in the 70th before Shakir Taj sealed the win in stoppage time.
PAF had a strong first half before they held on for victory against Railways at the Raiders Football Club ground.
Mansoor Khan scored with a stunning free-kick from 20 yards to give them the lead just before the half hour mark and Mohammad Sohail Jr ran onto a through-ball by Irfan Ali to double PAF’s lead on the stroke of half-time.
Railways reduced the arrears six minutes into the second half through Wajid Ali Khan but couldn’t find the leveller and will now face Bhatti United on Saturday to decide which teams joins PAF in the quarter-finals from the group.
Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2016
