Omar’s heroics take NBP to semis

KARACHI: International goalkeeper Mohammad Omar saved three penalties to enable National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to set semi-final date with Army when they defeated Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) 3-2 in penalty shootout in the third quarter-final of the PFF Cup 2016 at the Raiders Ground in Model Town, Lahore, on Wednesday.

“It was a hard-fought game but fortunately we won in the end thanks to Omar’s splendid keeping,” NBP coach Nasir Ismail told ‘The News’.

After the game ended in a goalless draw in the scheduled and extra time, NBP did a fine job in the penalty shootout, sealing a well-deserved victory against their rivals, who last year recruited a few fine players.

Omar blocked penalty kicks from international Saadullah, Hameed Khan and Umair Ali. Mohammad Lal and Bilawal-ur-Rehman converted their penalties for SSGC.

For NBP, Maqbool, Sanaullah and Mohammad Asif struck from the spot with an enviable ease.

“We had planned to play defensive game as we knew our rivals’ frontline and midfield were very strong. We tried to force them into aerial play and it worked,” said Nasir, a former assistant coach of Pakistan.

NBP’s skipper Abdul Aziz received a serious elbow injury and had to be taken to a hospital for treatment.

“During a body contact Aziz fell and injured his elbow. He has been taken to hospital and we are waiting for his medical report,” Nasir said.

“We already had Javed Hamza and Misbah-ul-Hasan on the injury list, so mostly we had youngsters in the field but they played superbly,” the coach said.

“Our semi-final with Army will also be a good one. There is still two days to go which will help us overcome our injury problems,” Nasir said.

FIFA referee Irshad-ul-Haq supervised the match. Waheed Murad and Shahid Hussain served as line judges. Shakoor Baloch was the match commissioner.

On Thursday (today), Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) face WAPDA in the fourth quarter-final at the same venue.  Army and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) have already qualified for the semi-finals.