[Source: Riaz Ahmed]
The 8th Karachi Football League 2010-11 saw two Group ‘A’ matches decided on Thursday 30th Dec 2010. Tournament organisers Karachi United FC stunned Malir’s FC Rovers 1-0 while Al-Shabaz Korangi beat former champions Shazad Mohammadan 2-0 at Baloch Mujahid Stadium in Ibrahim Hyderi, Karachi. The winning sides earned 3 precious points. These were first games of Karachi United and Shazad Mohammadan while Al-Shabaz Korangi had drawn 0-0 with Gulshan-e-Ittehad and FC Rovers drew 3-3 with Baloch Mujahid in their respective previous games.
Shah Rukh Chaudhry scored the fastest goal in the tournament after just 40 seconds on the clock when he beat two defenders and scored past Rovers goalie Wasiq Zeb to give Karachi United a shock 1-0 lead. FC Rovers came back strongly as their attackers Irfan Junejo, Sikander Butt, Radus Salam, and Abdullah put tremendous pressure of KUFC defence, however poor finishing let FC Rovers time and again. However the KUFC defence led by man of the match Mueez Salahuddin, Jamshed Umar, Hassan Saad, and goalkeeper Bilal Mehdi as well as substitute goalie Taha Alizai did not crack under pressure and maintain their narrow 1-0 lead till final whistle as Karachi United held on for a shock 1-0 win.
In the second game Al-Shabaz striker and man of the match Akhtar Rasheed inspired his side to a shock 2-0 win over 2008 & 2009 champions (and 2007 and 2010 runners-up) Shazad Mohammadan. The match was evenly poised 0-0 at half time as Al-Shabaz goalkeeper Manzoor Alam kept out efforts by Shazad Mohmdn strikers Muhammad Baloch, captain Sohail Baloch, Fazal Baloch and Asghar Baloch. But Al-Shabaz scored twice in second half to shock the former champions. In 52nd minute, a through ball from captain Abdul Rehman found Akhtar Rasheed in space as he dodged Shazad goalie Naveed Baloch and put the ball in back of empty net to give his side a 1-0 lead. Left winger Muhammad Hussain made it 2-0 in 73rd minute as he latched on to a pass from Jahangir and expertly scored. In dying moments of game, Manzoor Alam kept out at least two certain chances from Shazad Mohamamdan strikers as the game finished 2-0 in favour of Al-Shabaz Korangi.
Referees were Adnan Khan, Umar Baloch, Imam Bakhsh and Babar Khan while match commissioners were member Central Zone, Abdul Karim and Saleem Arif while media coordinator was Khalid Majeed.
8th KARACHI FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2010-11
Venue: Baloch Mujahid Stadium, Ibrahim Hyderi
GROUP ‘A’
Karachi United 1-0 FC Rovers (Malir)
[Shah Rukh Chaudhry 40 Sec]
Al-Shabaz (Korangi) 2-0 Shazad Mohammadan (Malir)
[Akhtar Rasheed 52, Mohammad Hussain 73]
Today’s Fixture (Saturday)
Shabaz Green vs defending champion Chanesar Blue at 3:30 pm
Baloch Mujahid vs Orangi Mohammadan at 5:30 pm
