Sohail, Sarfaraz power KRL into knock-out stage
KRL’s stunning performance was however overshadowed by a surprising 0-0 draw by minnows KESC with former champions ABL at People’s Sports Complex.
KESC, after the draw emerged as the group leaders, the bankers, however, moved ahead from Group `G’ on point basis, while KRL became the group champions from Group `H’.
Today’s matches also completed the second round line-up which starts from Friday.
KRL, the losing finalists of the last edition, got off to a whirlwind start taking an unassailable 7-0 lead before the breather. The game exploded into life with two quickfire goals from Sarfaraz.
He opened the score with the match only eight minutes old, and then shocked City District Government Quetta (CDGQ) with another the next minute.
CDGQ never came back into the game after the two opening goals and went further down with striker Qadeer Ahmad pouncing in the 14th minute, Sohail nabbed the fourth on 29 minutes, and Sarfaraz firing in barely after 60 seconds to complete his treble.
Yet there was no respite for the hapless CDGQ as KRL continued their penetrating runs deep into CDGQ’s half which resulted in two more.
The first half punishment for CDGQ finished with 36th minute Farooq Aziz goal and an effort by Sohail five minutes before lemon time.
CDGQ got their solitary goal after the break, Mohammad Yousuf scoring in the 53rd minute which proved a mere consolation as the KRL strikers started from where they had finished.
Sohail took control and completed his hat trick just two minutes later, and sealed CDGQ’s fate with a 88th-minute strike that ousted the rivals from the contest.
There was nothing exceptional during the ABL-KESC encounter except both the sides first making inroads and then returning empty-handed due to poor finishing.
ABL badly missed the inspirational Pakistan striker Gohar Zaman, nursing a shin fracture he suffered while playing Hong Kong at the recent Busan Asian Games.
Aging but experienced Amjad Zikria along with ABL forwards Mohammad Ejaz and Bahadur Khan made his way into the KESC half but either missed the target or was prevented by defenders.
An attack in the 56th minute by KESC’s Aurangzaib could have broken the deadlock but his weak drive trickled down the left. Amjad was constantly troubling the KESC defences racing down the left but was stifled by some tight marking.
Ejaz’s close-range header in the 75th minute was blocked after Khalid Hussain gave him a perfect cross. Khalid was preparing to shoot from the area but kept at bay when timely tackled by Abdul Razzaque in the 80th minute.
KESC’s another chance came when Ahmad outwitted ABL defence only to see Lal Mohammad’s header taken by goalkeeper Noman Ibrahim.
ABL, looking for an injury time goal, pressed hard with Pakistan skipper Haroon Yousuf releasing a pass for Amjad whose header went straight into keeper Zulfiqar’s gloves.
Second round fixtures:
Oct 25: PIA v Agha Gas Quetta at 1.30pm; Pakistan Army v HBL at 3.15pm
Oct 26: PAF v Pakistan Machine Tool Factory at 1.15pm; Wapda v Railways at 3.15pm
Oct 27: PTCL v KRL at 1.15pm; KPT v ABL at 3.15pm
Oct 28: KESC v Afghan Agency Chaman at 1.15pm; NBP v Pakistan Navy at 3.13pm