National Challenge Cup: PIA strike late in 3-1 win over K-Electric

Winners progress to the semi-finals, KRL pip NBP 1-0

KARACHI: PIA struck late goals in their National Challenge Cup quarter-final on Thursday to defeat Pakistan Premiere Football League Champions K-Electric (K-E) 3-1 at the Railways Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.

Muhammad Rasool scored the opening goal in the 36th minute of the match as K-E led 1-0 at the interval, and the team remained in control for the most of the second-half as well, until the referee awarded a penalty-kick to PIA in the 79th minute on a handball against K-E.

According to PIA coach Shamim Khan, the game-changing decision was all his team needed to bounce back into the match.

Nasrullah equalised the score, while Muhammad Zeeshan helped PIA take the lead in the 93rd minute and Muhammad Imran sealed the win in the sixth minute of extra-time.

“It’s a huge win because K-E are a really good side,” Shamim told The Express Tribune. “They were the favourites to win the title, and I believe my players turned the match around in a spirited manner. We were also lucky to get the penalty-shot just when we needed it. Overall, it was a match that we enjoyed playing.”

Winning captain Haji Muhammad added that he is expecting the same performance from his side in the semi-finals. PIA will play the winner of the quarter-final between Navy and Wapda on Friday.

Meanwhile, K-E captain Essa Khan also felt that his team performed well but was short on luck.

“We were winning the match for 80 minutes,” said Essa. “But then our players started losing momentum once PIA equalised. While PIA availed their chances towards the end of the match, we lost ours in the beginning of the second-half. It wasn’t our day.”

KRL also joined PIA in the semi-finals after their 1-0 win against NBP at the Faisal Town Stadium as Murtaza scored the winner in the 32nd minute of the quarter-final.

The Rawalpindi-based side will take on the winner of the quarter-final between PAF and Army.




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