Islamabad, Khyber Eagles enter U23 football semis

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Tigers and Khyber Eagles completed the semi-finals line-up in the National Under-23 Football Championship underway at the Kunj Ground in Abbottabad.

KP Falcons and Balochistan Bazigars have already qualified for semi-finals winning their respective quarter-finals Saturday.

In the third quarter-finals, Islamabad Tigers beat Balochistan Zorawars by a solitary goal while Khyber Eagles edged out Sindh Saints 2-1 in the fourth quarter-final played on Sunday.

Islamabad Tigers and Balochistan Zorawars were seen getting involved in a tough battle. It was Nofil Hussain who struck the winner seven minutes into the final hooter to put the Tigers in the semi-finals.

Zohaib Ayub and Shayak Dost played well for Balochistan Zorawars and Usman Aslam was outstanding for Islamabad Eagles.

Khyber Eagles scored through Muhammad Ishaq on a penalty kick for his team’s 1-0 lead in the fourth quarter-final. Hamza Raza Khattak doubled the lead, netting the second to make it 2-0 in the 51st minute. Seconds before the final whistle, Noman Baloch reduced the margin, striking for Sindh Saints to make it 2-1.