Afghanistan Women soccer team, making their debut and playing their first ever women soccer event on Pakistan soil, occupy berth in quarter-finals of third National Women Soccer. Championship at Islamabad's 40,000-capacity Jinnah Stadium today.
They routed another debutant Young Rising Star Blue 5-0 to finish second in the Group-D after Diya Women FC (6 pts). It was the last game for Rising Star who said good bye to the 26-match show following two straight defeats.
Skipper Shamila, the spearhead of Afghanistan, was the star performer with a hat-trick. Rising Star Blue did well to hold the visitors with stubborn display in initial period of the game but they gave up in the 28th minute, conceding first goal.
Shamila did the needful with angular drive on left corner. Hardly 90 minutes had elapsed, Shamila struck her second with solo spurt. One-minute later Afghanistan was home and dry when winger Hadiqa forced the ball into net with long-range drive.
Afghanistan led 3-0 at halftime. Shamila completed her hat-trick in the 39th minute of the game while midfielder Azada rounded off the tally through 47th minute free-kick.
"It is historic that we reached the last eight of PFF's precious calendar event. We have played matches in early morning and now looking forward to the quarterfinal against holders Pakistan WAPDA in afternoon kick-off on Tuesday. Afghan women competing in Pakistan will be great for the relationship of the two nations," said Afghanistan coach Abdul Saboor Walizada.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF)'s President Akramudin Karim, Vice President Raz M. Sultani, General Secretary Mukhtar Ahmad Rustami have hailed the display of their team which staged recovery after unsatisfactory start, losing 0-2 to Karachi's Diya Club.
The Match Commissioner was M. Irfan Khan Niazi while Qazi Muhammad Asif acted as Referee Assessor. Muhammad Sharif supervised the match while Chaman Khan, Yasmeen Zareen, Hafiz Akber Tahir Mehmood performed duty on touchline as his assistant. There will be no match on Monday and all four quarterfinals will be held on Tuesday.
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