Navy thrash NBP in Football Challenge Cup

LAHORE—Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) set a clash in the final of the National Football Challenge Cup after winning their respective semi finals at Karachi on Tuesday.
According to information made available here CDGK Stadium (KRL) reaching the final of the event for the third time after 1999 and 2001 when they struck twice in first half to beat National Champions Wapda 2-0.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Navy put up fabulous show, one of the best in their history, when they destroyed the defence of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) all ends up at Peoples Sports Complex and recorded 3-0 thumping win. It will be first final of seamen in NFCC. The final will take place after third-place encounter on 14 May. KRL and Wapda fielded galaxy of stars in the hotly-contested affair and the team from Rawalpindi drew first blood when lanky winger Muhammad Qasim put KRL ahead in the 14th minute. Qasim, who scored most international goals for Pakistan in current year, capitalized on defensive blunder to steer the ball past keeper Abdul Aziz.
Opportunist striker Muhammad Rasool tuned the game flow of KRL to perfection by scoring in the 45th minute to give KRL healthy 2-0 lead by interval. These were third goals for Qasim and Rasool in the event. WAPDA failed to win the applause of spectators and failed to earn even consolation goal and suffered 0-2 defeat. Pakistan Navy, who never won the National Championship and NFCC, had created another chance for their first ever glory in domestic soccer when they gave no room to NBP and managed brilliant 3-0 victory. The seamen held the territorial advantage throughout 90-minutes and led 2-0 at interval.
Experienced defender Muhammad Ramzan gave them the lead in the 26th minute and winger Asif Mahmood consolidated the lead by making it 2-0 in the 35th minute. Navy strengthened their defence to keep both the goals alive till breather.
NBP went all out in search of equalizing goals but they failed to show commitment infront of Navy’s cage. Instead they conceded another goal. It was netted by front-runner Sajjad Ahmed in the 50th minute. It was Sajjad’s third goal of the event and he is in the race alongwith KRL’s Qasim and Rasool to clinch top-scorer award on Thursday, by displacing WAPDA’s Imran Niazi (4 goals). Tomorrow,Wednesday,matches (3rd place Match) WAPDA v NBP (Peoples Sports Complex.

—Agencies