ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: Failing to capitalise on several good chances, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) were held to a 0-0 draw by Railways in a Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) League Group ‘B’ match played at the PAF Complex, Islamabad, on Wednesday.
The clash between the two former national champions, confined largely to midfield skirmishes, failed to live up to expectations. Playing their usual steady game, the airmen were obviously the better side, keeping ball possession with them for longer. But they missed a fine opportunity to score in the first half when winger Nauman Ahmed’s powerful kick from in front of the cage was blocked by Railway’s keeper and skipper Tariq in the 19th minute.
PAF’s Nowshera-born striker Badshah Gul fumbled three clear cut chances in the second half. He failed to slip the ball into the net after fine work by skipper Mohammad Pervez in the 56th minute. And eight minutes later his header off international winger Arshad Jan’s cross went past keeper Tariq to bounce off the left post. Gul was also aimless in the 82nd minute off Nauman’s through pass that caused panic in the Railways’ area.
Zaheer Abbas and Mohammad Saleem of Railways too wasted a couple of good chances in the 47th and 79th minutes, respectively. Thirty-one-year-old Khyber Agency-born keeper Khalid blocked both moves to receive praise from his manager Wng Cdr Mehmood Zaidi and coach Jader Campella.
The match was supervised by FIFA Referee Shafaat Habib with assistance from Mohammad Ibrahim and Mohammad Sharif.
Thursday’s fixture: Sui Southern Gas Company v Police at the Colony Sports Stadium, Malir, Karachi, at 3.00pm.
—Agencies
