HYDERABAD, April 17 Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) beat organisers National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) 1-0 in the NBP National Football Challenge Cup (NFCC) at the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) Stadium on Friday.

In the day`s other matches, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) registered a 2-0 win over Sindh Government Press (SGP) and Habib Bank Limited (HBL) beat Pakistan Air Force (PAF) 2-1.

The Group `C` encounter saw a young KESC side succeeding in preventing the more-experienced bankers from scoring throughout the match and even break through their defense line to score the decider in the 81st minute through a spectacular header by striker Aurangzeb. Coach Hasan Baloch was all praise for his boys after the match for causing an upset so early in the event.

In the other Group `C` match, KRL overwhelmed SGP 2-0 thanks to two second-half strikes by both Chaman-born players within six minutes. Skipper Mohammad Essa scored in the 60th minute and winger Mahmood Khan followed with another in the 65th minute.

Meanwhile, HBL edged past PAF 2-1 in Group `A`. Striker Zakir Lashari scored in the 21st minute to help his side lead by 1-0 at interval.

Parity was restored by PAF`s striker Jamil Ahmed in the 41st minute but HBL`s other striker Ishtiaq Ahmed scored their second goal in the 63rd minute. HBL could have won by an even bigger margin had it not been for PAF`s goalkeeper Khalid Khan who saved three sure shot goals including a penalty.

Saturday`s fixtures Navy v DFA Hyderabad at 9.30am; Wapda v HEC at 3.00pm; KPT v PEL 5.00pm.— Agencies