Nazir brace powers Quetta to title win

KARACHI: Nazir Ahmed’s double enabled Quetta to wear the crown when they defeated Chaman 2-1 in the final of the lucrative Balochistan Football Cup 2016 at the Ayub Stadium in Quetta on Friday.

Nazir, the skipper, hit the brace inside seven minutes to ensure his side’s title victory. In the high-voltage game, both sides played aggresively right from the start. Nazir put Quetta ahead in the 14th miniute when he headed one past the keeper on a corner kick from Rajab Ali. In the 20th minute, Nazir doubled the hosts’ lead with another superb header to bring the visitors under terrific pressure.

In the 43rd minute, Chaman could have reduced the deficit but Quetta’s gloveman averted the danger with a diving save.

At half time, Quetta were leading 2-0.

In the second half, Quetta played with judicious approach, plugging the gaps that denied the rivals’ strikers the chance to penetrate.

Following a flurry of rallies it was international Hayatullah who landed the consolation goal for the losers when he sprinted past defenders before beating the keeper.

Balochistan Sports Minister Mir Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Mohammad Hasani graced the closing ceremony. The winners were handed over a purse of Rs500,000 while the runners-up went away with Rs250,000.

In the event on which the organisers spent Rs12million, 32 outfits from all the districts of the province showed their worth.

The initial round games were conducted in the six divisional headquarters of Balochistan. The knock-out stage matches were held in Quetta.