[Source: Riaz Ahmed, veteran football journalist]
Former KASB League champions Young Ansari came back from 0-1 down to win 2-1 against District West Zone Champions Sindh Balochistan in their All-Karachi Friendship Day & Night Football Tournament (Group A) tie at Golden Star Ground in New Karachi. Rasheed Pira and Umar Nawab scored for Young Ansari, while Ehsan lone goal for Sindh Balochistan. The result leaves Young Ansari topping Group A on 3 points, followed by National Afridi and FC Rovers on 1 apiece, and Sindh Balochistan on 0 after their first games of the tournament.
Both teams had played each other in semi-finals of the District West Zone Football Championship, and this one got off to a great start in 15th minute when striker Ehsan headed in a cross from Sindh Balochistan’s youth international Nadeem Baloch from the right wing to give his side the lead. However in 33rd minute Sindh Balochistan goalkeeper Mehmood fumbled a corner kick from Young Ansari captain Muhammad Arif allowing Rasheed Pira to equalise. At half-time game was 1-1.
In 2nd half, the pace of the game did not dampen as Sindh Balochistan forwards Nadeem Baloch, Ehsan, international Lal Muhammad, and Wahab were all denied by Young Ansari goalkeeper Rashid Munna. Young Ansari also had their chances as their forwards Hameed Afridi, Muhammad Arif, Umar Nawab, and Raseed Pira could not find the back of the net. However in 48th minute, Umar Nawab headed in a Hameed Afridi cross to give Young Ansari the lead. The game finished 2-1 for the former KASB League champions as they topped Group A with full 3 points.
Match referee was Muhammad Ashraf with assistants Babar Khan and Farrukh Riaz while match commissioner was Abdul Karim (Chairman Referees & Member Central Zone).
