LAHORE, Oct 4: Three matches were decided on the opening day of the 4th National under-17 football championship at Ayub Stadium in Quetta on Tuesday. According to reports, Punjab struck a goal each in both sessions to beat Northern Areas 2-0.

Muhammad Naseem surged winners ahead in the 20th minute while midfielder Muhammad Irfan made it 2-0 converting a free-kick in the 67th minute.

Islamabad staged a recovery in the second tie to hold the NWFP to 1-1.

After a scoreless first-half, NWFP’s Asadullah Khan broke the deadlock in the 48th minute with a goal, but Islamabad levelled it through Fahadullah Khan in the 62nd minute.

The third match of the day between holders Sindh and hosts Balochistan ended in a goalless draw.

The championship will help PFF form a Pakistan team for the AFC U-17 championship. Pakistan take on arch-rivals India in the qualifying phase of AFC under-17 football championship on Nov 13.

The two South Asian teams will also take on Tajikistan in the three-nation Group-G on Indian soil.

Pakistan and India will clash with the Central Asian nation on Nov 15 and 17, respectively. The leader of Group-G will enter final phase of the AFC U-17 championship which is to be played in a South Asian country.

The AFC competition, which is held every two years, will also act as a qualifying tournament for South Korea’s FIFA U-17 World Championship 2007.—APP