PCAA enter National Challenge Cup semis

KARACHI: Pakistan Civial Aviation Authority (PCAA) blasted their way into the semifinals when they overwhelmed Asia Ghee Mills 2-1 in the fourth and final quarter-final of the PFF National Challenge Cup here at the KPT Sports Complex on Sunday.

Zaid Umar put CAA on the front foot when he landed a fine goal in the 13th minute.Their jubilation of taking the lead had not yet subsided when Sajid Ali brought an equalizer for AGM, landing a solid goal in the 15th minute. At half time the match was evenly poised at 1-1.

After the breather young-blooded newly-formed PCAA kept possession and tried to put pressure on the Bahawalpur-based opponents. And eventually CAA took decisive lead when Nouman struck on rebound in the 66th minute due to goalkeeping blunder.

PCAA will now face Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the semi-final on Tuesday (tomorrow). The first semi-final will be held between debutants Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and foru-time Premier League winners WAPDA on Monday (today). Both the semi-finals will be held at the KPT Sports Complex. The final will be held on May 10 at the same venue.

In the 24-team event mostly new sides were able to progress to the knock-out stage that might have been an eye opener for the well-established departmental sides who invest heavily on their teams but have failed to deliver after three years of inactivity.

Besides PIA, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), K-Electric who could not move beyond group stage, five-time winners Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) also failed to make it to the quarter-finals when they faced a shock 0-1 defeat in their last group outing against PCAA being coached by Pakistan’s experienced coach Siddiq Sheikh.