The 8th Karachi Football League 2010-11 saw 3 matches being played in Group ‘A’ (2 games) and Group ‘B’ (1 game). The most surprising result of the day was when Shabaz Green stunned favourites Young Ansari 2-1. In the other Group ‘A’ game, Karachi United trounced struggling Orangi Mohammadan 5-2 while in Group ‘B’, National Afridi (Baldia) overcame Gulshan-e-Ittehad (Korangi) 3-2 in a thriller to earn their first win of the campaign. All matches were held at Baloch Mujahid Stadium in Ibrahim Hyderi, Karachi.
The results left Shabaz Green and National Afridi earning their first 3 points after 4 and 2 games respectively. KFL organisers Karachi United have 9 from 3 games, Young Ansari remain on 9 points from 4 games, Gulshan-e-Ittehad remain on 1 from 3 games, while Orangi Mohammadan remain on 0 after 4 games. Match referees were Ibrar Hussain, Adnan Khan, Babar Khan, Farrukh Riaz, Ch. Sarfraz, and Saad Kazmi, while match commissioners were Abdul Karim (Member Central Zone) and Saleem Arif.
Ikramullah Khan and Rehmanullah Khan scored for Shabaz Green while captain Arif Swati scored for Young Ansari. Arif Swati was later sent off by FIFA referee Ibrar Hussain for a red card later in the game. Karachi United’s Rehan Munir scored the 5th hat-trick of the KFL 2010-11 against Orangi Mohammadan along with goals from Taha Rehman and Athar Qadri, while Kashif Azeem and Ghulam Haider scored for Orangi Mohammadan. National Afridi won thanks to goals from Usman Ali, Majid Baloch, and substitute Murad Ali Shah while Habibullah and Muhammad Younas scored for Gulshan-e-Ittehad.
Shabaz Green caused a major upset when they handed Young Ansari their first defeat on the KFL 2010-11 season as they won 2-1 in their Group ‘A’ encounter. Young Ansari were already weakened without the presence of suspended talisman Hameed Afridi in the game as Shabaz Green took the lead on 26 minutes with a goal from Ikramullah Khan. But a minute before half time, Young Ansari skipper Arif Swati levelled the scores. However, Shabaz Green stunned the favourites as Rehmanullah Khan scored the winner in 85th minute to give his sides their first win of the campaign.
A high scoring affair saw Karachi United trounce struggling Orangi Mohammadan 5-2 as both sides impressed the crowd with attacking flair. However, KUFC had the services of left winger Rehan Munir who scored a superb hat trick with goals in 13th, 29th, and 45th minutes. Taha Rehman had opened the scoring in 5th minute for KUFC whie Athar Qadri scored in 75th minute for the KFL organisers. For Orangi Mohammadan, Kashif Azeem scored in 43rd minute while Ghulam Haider scored in last minute of the game as their side again lost.
National Afridi’s first KFL 2010-11 win saw Usman Ali giving them the lead on 13 minutes which Majid Baloch doubled on 24 minutes. However in 2nd half, Gulshan-e-Ittehad launched a superb come back as the levelled the scores through Habibullah (53′) and Muhammad Younas (62′) making it 2-2. However, substitute striker Murad Ali Shah gave National Afridi a 3-2 lead in 65th minute which they maintained till the end.
The next game will be between Korangi Gymkhana and Gulshan-e-Ittehad on Friday at 3:30 PM on 14 January 2011.
8TH KARACHI FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2010-11
Venue: Baloch Mujahid Stadium – Ibrahim Hydri
GROUP ‘A’
Shabaz Green 2-1 Young Ansari
[Ikramullah Khan 26, Rehmanullah Khan 85 – Arif Sawati 44] Arif Swati (Young Ansari) Red Card 63′
Karachi United FC 5-2 Orangi Mohammadan
[Taha Rehman 8, Rehan Munir (3) 13,29,45, Athar Qadri 75 – Kashif Azeem 43, Ghulam Haider 90]
GROUP ‘B’
National Afridi 3-2 Gulshan-e-Ittehad
[Usman Ali 13, Majid Baloch 24, Murad Ali Shah 65 – Habibullah 53, Mohammad Younus 62]
Karachi United 9 points from 3 games, National Afridi 3 points from 2 games, Shabaz Green 3 points from 4 games, Young Ansari 9 points from 4 games, Gulshan-e-Ittehad 1 point from 3 games, Orangi Mohammadan 0 point from 4 games
Fixture (Friday) 14.1.2011: Korangi Gymkhana vs Gulshan-e-Ittehad Korangi 3:30 pm
Source: RIAZ AHMED – 0300-3926092
