Lahore, 3 August : Front runner of Young Rising Star Malaika Noor once again turned out to be the most dangerous goal scorer when she fired four goals against Peshawar’s Frontier College in 7-1 quarter-final triumph as 2008 National Champions smartly gained spot in the semi-final of sixth National Women Football Championship last night at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.
Having six goals, Malaika is now one goal behind, Islamabad’s striker and skipper Mejzgaan Orakzai who managed seven goals so far. Later on, Pakistan WAPDA joined YRS, Islamabad and Sports sciences in the last four stage with creditable 3-0 win over Sindh in the last quarter-final.
Malaika, who visited Dhaka earlier this year for 11th South Asian Games, also joined Orakzai and Shumaila Shaukat, also of Islamabad, as one of the three hat-trick makers in the event. She dominated the second session with hat-trick after initial work had been completed by Zahra Kiyani and Asma Yaseen who were instrumental in giving Ghias Uddin Baloch’s club 4-0 lead at interval.
Winger Zahra opened the flood gates with two sparkling strikes in the 13th and 23rd minute. Midfielder Asma Tehseen put the issue beyond doubt with third in the 32nd minute. Malaika came into action in the 35th minute with her first goal and she was dominant force in the second half, giving no room to college girls with three unstoppable goals in the 44th, 56th and 67th minute.
Pakistan WAPDA also came out victors from the field through the fine work of spearhead Rafia Perveen who was Malaika’s colleague at Dhaka’s biennial Games. She came to explosive form in the second half after stubborn display by Sindh in the first half that ended 0-0.
Rafia, who joined WAPDA from Vehari United, snatched the opener in the 39th minute after fine one-two with Nadia Bhatti and enhanced the lead to 2-0 six minutes later when she caught right wing cross from Naila Rani and did the rest with low drive on the left corner. Midfielder Shakila Rehman was the executor in the fourth minute of injury time as WAPDA met handsome success under coach Qasim Raza. Aisha earned consolation goal for losers in the 49th minute.
Wednesday Fixtures (Both semi-finals):
Pakistan WAPDA v Islamabad (4.45 PM, Jinnah Stadium), Young Rising Star v Sports Sciences (4.45 PM, Ground No.2)
