ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: Karachi’s Diya Women’s Football Club outclassed Higher Education Commission (HEC) 9-0, Punjab beat Azad Jammu & Kashmir 4-0 and Islamabad edged out Balochistan 1-0 on Friday in the Fourth National Women’s Football Championship 2008 underway here at the Jinnah Stadium.

The Group ‘B’ match between Diya WFC and HEC saw them booking a berth in the quarter-finals. Two hat-tricks were also scored by Hajra Khan and Faryal Khan.

Diya led 3-0 at interval and added six more in the second session. Faryal got her hat-trick in the 57th minute after scoring two goals in the 2nd and 16th minutes. Hajra slotted home her three goals in the 26th, 37th and 47th minutes. The winners’ other two goal-getters were two-goal Marium Laghari (44th min, 51st min) and Saiqa Fareed (41st min).

In the day’s second fixture, also a Group ‘B’ affair, Punjab proved too good for Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). Striker Roma Abbas gave Punjab a handsome 2-0 lead at interval with goals in the 18th and 28th minutes. Midfielder Lubna Shazia consolidated the lead in the 51st minute and it was left to defender Nadia Naz to complete the rout in injury time.

Meanwhile, Samantha scored a 13th minute goal to propel Islamabad to a slender 1-0 win over Balochistan in Group ‘C’.

Saturday’s fixtures: Rawalpindi’s Young Rising Stars v NWFP on Pitch 1; Islamabad v Police on Pitch 2; Punjab University’s Sports Sciences v Vehari United on Pitch 3.

All matches will kick off at 6.00pm.

Opinion

Editorial

GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...
Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...