K-Electric, NBP register wins in Challenge Cup

Opening day ends with high-scoring encounters.

KARACHI: Last year’s runners-up K-Electric began their campaign in the National Football Challenge Cup with a convincing victory over Pak-Afghan Clearing Agency (Paca) 5-2 at the KMC ground on Tuesday.

K-Electric coach Hasan Baloch said that a winning start to a major tournament is extremely important to succeed.

In the high scoring Group B match, K-Electic’s Nigerian player Oludeyi ‘Sunday’ Abayomi, scored the opening goal in the 10th minute, while Rasool doubled the lead in the 25th to give K-Electric a 2-0 lead at the interval.

The Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) runners-up continued to attack as Rasool scored another goal in the 57th minute to carry on the momentum in the second half. Abdul Rehman also contributed with his goal in the 67th minute, while Umar Farooq sealed the victory for K-Electric in the 84th minute.

Paca only managed to reply with two goals from Abdul Sanaam and Rehmatullah in the dying moments of the game.

We need to stop being the second best, says Hasan

After the brilliant performance, Hasan said that it is time for K-Electric to win the title.

“We’ve been the runners-up in the Challenge Cup last year as well, and even in PPFL earlier this month, we need to stop being the second best,” Hasan told The Express Tribune. “We want to win the title this time; our top contenders will be KRL, Wapda and PAF.”

Meanwhile, defending champions NBP also made a winning start in a Group C match as they defeated Higher Education Commission (HEC) 3-1, at the KPT stadium.

Sher Ali scored two goals for NBP in the first half, while Adnan Nazar sealed the win for his team in the 81st minute of the match. HEC’s solitary goal was scored by Muhammad Noman in the 76th minute.

“My team will play like champions in our next match against Wapda,” said NBP coach Nasir Ismail. “I’m not worried because I have a very strong bench.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2014.

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