KARACHI, May 19: The National U-18 side recorded a thumping 5-2 victory over Bhatti United FC on Sunday to set up a quarter-final clash against Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) at the National Challenge Cup.

Victory assured the youth side top spot from Group ‘C’ with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) taking on Pakistan Army in the late match on Sunday to decide which team advances to the last-eight stage with them.

The country’s premier cup event, which is being held in Bahwalpur, has been marred by inconsistencies in arrangements made for the matches following several problems with the lighting problems at the stadium and inadequate facilities.

Despite all those problems, Hasan Baloch’s National Youth outfit has remained undeterred to seal a place in the quarter-finals.

Against Bhatti United, National Youth were rampant, taking the lead as early as the 11th minute through Riaz Ahmed before Mansoor Khan scored the first of his four goals from the penalty spot nine minutes later.

Adnan pulled one back for Bhatti United in the 26th and Mohammad Yasir hauled them level with his strike in the 61st.

Mansoor then turned on the style, scoring his second in the 78th before completing his hat-trick three minutes later.

He then added his fourth and National Youth’s fifth when he rounded off a flowing move five minutes from time which put his side on seven points after their three group games.

Next up for them are KESC who finished second in Group ‘B’ after losing 3-1 to Wapda on Sunday evening.

“We’re a good, solid team which has been playing together for the last couple of years and we’re quite capable of beating top teams and advancing to the semi-finals,” Hasan Baloch said.

In a match to decide the group winners, Mohammad Rasool put KESC in front after ten minutes but Wapda’s Jadeed Khan Pathan levelled matters a minute before half-time.

Jadeed’s second in the 67th put Wapda ahead before Manzoor scored in injury time to secure top spot for his side.

In an inconsequential Group ‘B’ clash, Amanullah’s quick-fire double helped Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) rout Pakistan Police 4-0.

Imran Senior gave SSGC the lead in the 20th minute before Jahanzeb added another eight minutes into the second-half.

Amanullah then got into the act, scoring his first in the 87th before adding another a minute from time as SSGC gained a measure of pride having lost both their previous matches.

For Police, it was another disappointing defeat which saw them end their campaign with three defeats.

On Saturday night, Pak-Afghan Clearing Agency (PACA) threw Group ‘A’ wide open after they upset defending champions and Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) holders Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) 2-1.

In a match between the champions of the two divisions, PACA, who will play in next season’s PPFL after winning the second division Pakistan Football Federation League (PFFL) last season, stunned KRL when Abdul Hadi finished off a swift counterattack to score in the 19th minute.

Another quick breakaway four minutes into the second-half saw Sirajuddin put them 2-0 up before KRL’s star striker pulled one back in the 69th.Despite relentless attacking by KRL, PACA stood firm to move top of the group with four points and virtually secure a place in the quarter-finals.

“We played really well against a top side,” PACA owner and former Pakistan captain Mohammad Essa told Dawn. “We came into the tournament with good preparation and a will to win and we’ve done exactly that to move to the brink of the last-eight stage.”

Essa said his side had perfectly executed the plan they had devised to overcome KRL.

“We planned to stay strong at the back and counterattack whenever we had the chance and on two of those, we ended up scoring so I’m relatively pleased with how things worked out,” he said.“It is a good victory for our confidence and it gives us a real boost to go ahead and progress further in the competition.”

KRL manager Tariq Lutfi, meanwhile, blamed his side’s defeat on the flickering lights at the stadium.

“The lights went off for at least ten times during our match which caused numerous interruptions throughout,” Lutfi, who’s side came to Bahawalpur on the back of a successful AFC President’s Cup campaign in the Philippines, said.

“How can a match be held when there is no consistency in the lighting system?” he questioned. “We never really got in the groove … the lights badly hampered our tempo.”

Lutfi, however, was optimistic about his side’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

“We play Habib Bank Limited [HBL] on Monday and I’m hopeful that we’ll win that game and progress to the last-eight,” he said.

HBL kept themselves in the running for a place in the quarter-finals after securing a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Ashraf Sugar Mills (ASM) on Saturday.

Abdul Salam’s goal deep in injury time helped them salvage a point after ASM had taken the lead through Mohmmad Naeem early in the second-half.

KRL have three points with HBL on two and ASM a further point behind.

Monday’s fixtures: Group ‘A’: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) v Habib Bank Limited (HBL); Pak-Afghan Clearing Agency (PACA) v Ashraf Sugar Mills (ASM). Group ‘D’: Higher Education Commission (HEC) v Bahawalpur; Pakistan Air Force (PAF) v National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).