Jam XI (Malir) utilised its home ground advantage to ease past Mauripur Azad 3-0 yesterday, 18 Feb 2012, to lead Group B in the 2012 All-Karachi Engro Vopak Football League being played at Jam Stadium in Malir, Karachi.
A brace from striker Liaquat Ali and a gola from Arif Hameed helped Jam XI overcome a struggling Mauripur Azad side that faced their third successive defeat in the league. The win helped Jam XI reach 10 points from 4 games while Mauripur Azad remained on 0 from 3 games.
Mauripur Azad started the game brightly as Shahid Gaji (2′), Amjad Ali and Rasheed (15′) came close to opening the scoring. But Jam XI took the 1-0 lead when Liaquat Ali scored from a Amir Hassan pass in 27th minute. Just two minutes later, Mauripur Azad almost responded with a goal but Jam XI goalkeeper Arshad Nabi kept out Asad Rasheed’s effort. Jam XI almost went 2-0 up in 39th minute but Arif Hameed and Qasim failed to beat Mauripur Azad custodian Abdul Hameed after combining well. Jam XI remained 1-0 ahead at half time.
In 2nd half, Jam XI tightened their grip on the game as they scored twice more to win 3-0 at the end. Jam XI won a penalty in 56th minute after Ghulam Sarwar fouled Amir Hassan in the box, allowing Liaquat Ali to step up and make it 2-0 with his second goal of the game. Just 3 minutes later, Arif Hameed scored from a Abdul Majeed pass to make it 3-0 for Jam XI. Mauripur Azad attempted to reduce the deficit in remaining minutes but Jam XI’s defence and goalkeeper denied them every time and maintained their 3-0 lead.
Jam XI captain Faisal Umar was named Man of the Match by a jury comprising of Fateh Muhammad Baloch, Shahid Taj and Ubaidullah Khan, as DFRA West chairman Chaudhry Sarfraz presented Faisal Umar with the Rs 500 cash prize. Referees were Anser Javed, Babar Khan, Imran Hussain, and match commissioner Abdul Karim.
On Monday, 20 Feb 2012, Salar Welfare Centre (Malir) face Sindh Muslim (Gizri).