The 9th UBL Omni Karachi United Football League 2011-12 saw the completion of its first phase when Irfan Memorial (Landhi) edged past Baloch Mujahid FC (Ibrahim Hyderi) yesterday, 24 Feb 2012, to take the last available space left for the KUFL Super League round. Jam Stadium (Malir, Karachi) saw the tense Group ‘B’ game between the two sides as Irfan Memorial knocked out KUFL venue hosts Baloch Mujahid from the next round with the win.
Baloch Mujahid desperately needed a win to confirm their place in Super League round while Irfan Memorial needed just a draw. Baloch Mujahid began the game in eager mood as their strikers Naveed Raza, Umar Bakhsh, M Nadeem and M Rizwan tried to utilise passes from their midfield of Bilal Raza, Salal Raza, and Yasin Ali to score but Irfan Memorial goalkeeper Kamran Khan denied them each time. Irfan Memorial’s attack of Abdullah, Farhan Khan, Afzal Baloch, M Zubair, and midfield of Khurram Shehzad, Shoaib Khan, and Shahbaz Samoo retaliated and took a 1-0 lead when Abdullah’s superb back pass in the box allowed Farhan Khan to score with precision in 34th minute.
Irfan Memorial then made it 2-0 in 2nd half when Khurram Shehzad’s pass found Afzal Baloch who dribbled 30 yards, rounded BM goalie Shehzad Ali, and found the back of the net in style in 73rd minute. Baloch Mujahid managed to finally respond in 89th minute when Umar Bakhsh’s 23 yard free-kick beat Kamran Khan and found the back of the net to make it 2-1. But it proved to be too little, too late as Irfan Memorial held on for a memorable win in the end to knock out Baloch Mujahid from the KUFL Super League spot race.
Referees were Abdul Latif, Imran Hussain, Anees Akhtar, 4th official Arif Hameed, and match commissioner Abdul Karim.
Irfan Memorial joins fellow Group B sides Karachi United, Korangi Baloch (Sharafi), and Al-Shabaz Korangi in Super League round. Group A sides in Super League round are Baloch Youth (Garden), Kalri Star (Lyari), Burma Mohammadan (Korangi), and FC Rovers (Malir Cantt).
All 8 sides will face each other once before the top 4 sides from Super League round qualify for semi-finals. The KUFL Super League phase begins on Saturday, 25 Feb 2012, when Kalri Star face Burma Mohammadan at Korangi Baloch Stadium in Sharafi. The Super League round will be inaugurated by M.M. Ghalib (Director of Hira School & College).