U14 Festival of Football
Raza propels NWFP into last four

LAHORE—Goalkeeper Raza Javed put upbrilliant display during penalty-shootout to take NWFP into semi-final of National U14 Festival of Football 2008 at Sahiwal on Friday.
NWFP outstroked Jacobabad 3-2 on tie-break after 0-0 in the first quarter-final at Rai Ali Nawaz Stadium, stated Pakistan Football Federation sources.
Later on, in the second quarter-final Karachi Yellow struck twice inside 22 minutes to eliminate highly-fancied Afghan FC of Chaman 2-0. Jacobabad-NWFP clash failed to produce any goal in scheduled and extra-time,taking the match to a penalty shoot out.
NWFP won the match, thanks to keeper Raza who blocked three efforts of Jacobabad’s Tahir Ali, Abid Ali and Ravi Kumar. The winners, under captaincy of Awais Anwar, steered the ball home through Faisal Khan, Muheed Khan and Asif Kamal leaving no chance for Jacobabad’s keeper Mazhar Ali while losers replied through Darya Khan and Mansoor.
Karachi Yellow mounted pressure on Afghan FC right from start and exhibited greater effort and agility on the part of their forwards to secure a fine victory.
It was a off coloured day for team from Balochistan who put up spiritless display after being the best team in league, scoring 12 goals. Their striker Hanif, currently top scorer with 8 eights, was also in dismal form.
Karachi, who won the PFF U14 Youth Cup at Faisalabad last year, opened the scoring in whirlwind fashion when midfielder Ubaid Sabir played a fine two with skipper Abdul Waheed and fired the ball past advancing keeper Waleed Hashim in the 109th seconds.
Karachi continued their onslaught and added another in the 22nd minute after a fine movement from left flank. Spearhead Muhammad Owais opened the gap for winger Fahim Shah whose low, powerful drive wet into cage via Waleed’s hands and right upright.
Afghan managed attacks in the second session through Hanif, Oley Yar and Abdul Samad but Karachi’s defenders Asif Waris, Uzair, Wali and Adil Rafiq remained cool and avoided set backs. Karachi’s keeper Ehsan Ullah was also alert under the bar. The 15 team event,for players born on or after January 1 1994, will help PFF to form Pakistan U14 team for the AFC U14 Festival of Football,slated to run at Iran in coming May.
There will be no match tomorrow, Saturday.The event will resume on Sunday with two semi-finals. The final will be played on February 5.

—Agencies