LAHORE, July 11:Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) play Pakistan Navy in Group-I while Army take on PAF/HEC in Group-II on the opening day of the first national football Challenge Cup’s final round starting in two different cities, simultaneously from July 15. The Group-I matches will be played at the Panthers Sports Complex, Faisalabad while Group-II at the Army Stadium, Rawalpindi.

In all, 12 teams will take part. They have been divided into two groups. Ten teams have qualified while two will be decided after playing playoff matches.

In Group-I, Panthers Club, Faisalabad face Wohaib Club, Lahore in the playoff. The winners will qualify for the final round.

In Group-II, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) will face each other in playoff.

The five teams which have qualified to make Group-I are KRL, Navy, Wapda, Police and KESC.

Group-II comprises Army, NBP, Karachi Port Trust, Sindh Government Press and PTCL. Two teams of each group will qualify for the last four after completion of the group matches on July 29.

Meanwhile, Higher Education Commission (HEC) registered a sensational 2-1 win over former national champions Pakistan Air Force and booked their berth in the last twelve of the First National football challenge cup (NFCC) at Jinah stadium on Monday.

HEC became the 11th team to book their passage into finals while 12th team will emerge when Lahore’s Wohaib Club will meet Faisalabad’s Panther Club in another replayed tie scheduled to be played on Thursday.

Gohar gave HEC the ideal start with a 16th minute goal and M.Rasool made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time.

PAF went all out in the second session and pulled one back in the 58th minute through international midfielder Ibrarullah, but they failed to grab the equalizer.

Draws: