HYDERABAD, April 28 Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) edged out Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) 1-0 to lift the winners' trophy of 19th NBP National Football Challenge Cup at the HESCO Complex on Tuesday.
It was first-ever win for KRL in any domestic football tournament since their debut in 1995.
Lanky Islamabad-born winger Mohammad Qasim turned out to be the hero by scoring the all-important goal of the tense 90-minute final.
The first half saw cautious display from both outfits. KRL had an edge and they missed chances through Mohammad Rasool (17th minute) and Essa (30th minute). There was no scoring in the first session.
Two-times SAF Games gold medallist Shahid Ahmed pushed the ball forward to Qasim who side-footed three markers and steered the ball with a low angular drive past the left hand of PIA's keeper Bilal Rafiq in the 64th minute.
The final was supervised by Abdul Sattar Badini, supported on the line by Mohammad Iqbal Jr/Asif bin Younus under match commissioners Razaullah Rajput and referee assessors Mohsin Shirazi. Abdul Aziz and Jehangir Khan were fourth and fifth officials, respectively.
The National Football Challenge Cup saw the scoring of five hat-tricks.
Thirty-two matches of the event produced 118 goals with eight players Majid Ali, Faraz (KPT), Rizwan Asif, Mohammad Latif (Wapda), Nasir Hussain, Shahid Munir (Navy), Abdul Jalil (SGP), Mohammad Shakil (DFA Hyderabad) having to leave the field following the red cards.
KRL's skipper Mohammad Essa took the winning trophy in addition to the Rs150,000 award. PIA's captain Nasrullah Khan accepted the silver medal and Rs100,000. Navy took bronze and Rs75,000.
PIA's spearhead Shakir Lashari clinched the Rs10,000 prize along with trophy for being the leading marksman. He struck eight goals in six matches.
Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khoro gave away the prizes.
Wapda's keeper Rao Yamin Khan, KRL's central-defender Samar Ishaq, and PIA's midfielder Nasrullah Khan were adjudged best players. Each of them received Rs5,000.
Wapda's Rizwan Asif grabbed Rs5,000 for the Most Promising Player.
Abdul Sattar Badini (Kharan), the referee of the final, took the Referee of the Event Award of Rs5,000.
In order to promote good sportsmanship, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Chief Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat handed over Rs20,000 to Pak Elektron Limited (PEL) as the winner of the Fair Play Trophy.—Agencies