KARACHI: Jadeed Khan Pathan and Lal Mohammad struck two goals each to enable Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to crush Sindh Police 5-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals in the three-team Group A competitions of Naya Nazimabad Departmental Football tournament here at the KMC Stadium on Thursday. The result also benefitted Pakistan Steel, who qualified for the quarter-finals of the 14-outfit competitions. Chaman’s PACA and Gwadar Port had withdrawn without informing the organisers. Sindh Police broke the deadlock in the third minute through Wahid. SSGC, the strongest second-tier side having a few international players, levelled the scores in the 12th minute through Mohammad Lal, a creative striker. At half time the match was evenly poised at 1-1. After the break, SSGC raised their game, inflicting incisive rallies from both wings which paid dividends, although they missed many chances.Jadeed, a former Pakistan Olympic team captain, put SSGC ahead in the 57th minute. He hit another in the 76th minute to put his side in a strong position. Saeed Ahmed, also an international, inflated SSGC’s lead in 89th minute. Lal Mohammad completed the rout through a goal in the injury time. Despite the victory, SSGC coach Tariq Lutfi was not happy. “The boys missed chances,” Tariq told ‘The News’. “The main reason behind this is that we played without any preparation. The players’ fitness level was not as high as it is when they train in a proper camp under a specific system. Our key player Salam did not play today due to a hamstring injury which he had received during the training session last day. We had to change Bilal after he injured his knee and Mehmood Khan also had fitness issues,” said Tariq, a former Pakistan coach. He said that the KMC ground was very heavy and it was not easy for the players without proper training. “KRL have come to the event after one-month training,” the coach said. He said that Jadeed played well but he missed six chances. “Each time he went on to the minus position but did not give the ball to anyone,” Tariq pointed out. SSGC also missed striker Saadullah who is playing in the Maldives.On Friday (today), former champions KRL face KMC in their Group B outing at the same venue. Both KRL and KMC have won their initial matches.
