LAHORE, Sept 8: Faisalabad Yellows outclassed their sister team Whites 2-0 to win the 19th national Under-18 football championship final, which was being played under floodlights at the Model Town ground here on Saturday.

The winners scored both goals in the second half of the match after a goal-less first half, to earn the title after 17 years. Faisalabad had last won in 1990 when they defeated Lahore. They now join Army and Dhaka as two-time champions of the event.

Striker Adnan Butt put Yellows in the lead in the 53rd minute when he pounced on a rebound to beat the Whites’ keeper Muzammil Hassan with a low powerful drive to the net. Nine minutes later international midfielder Akmal Shahzad doubled their lead from the top of the box.

It did seem, though only for an instant, that Faisalabad Whites were coming back into the game when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 74th minute but their striker Usman Manzoor wasted the chance.

Earlier, Afghan Club bagged a 7-2 victory against Model Town for the third position. Striker Abdul Khaliq recorded a hat-trick, scoring in the 21st, 42nd and 55th minute of the match, giving Afghan Club a 3-0 lead at half time. Muhammad Akram (34th min), Kalimullah (48th min), Mehmood Khan (87th min) and Hakim (90th min) were the other scorers for the winning side. Khurram Shahzad struck both goals for the losing team through penalties in the 62nd and 75th minute.

The winners received a cash prize of Rs40,000, while the runners-up and third place holders pocketed Rs30,000 and Rs20,000, respectively. Afghan Club’s winger Mehmood Khan was voted Player of the Tournament, while Faisalabad Whites’ Muzammil Hassan snatched the best keeper award. Both received Rs5000 from chief guest Punjab Governor Lt Gen Khalid Maqbool. Meanwhile NWFP lifted the Fair Play Trophy.