Pakistan Air Force (PAF) failed to capitalise on several chances and were held 0-0 draw by Pakistan Railways in Group-B of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) League-Departmental Phase 2008 on Wednesday. It was the clash between two former National Champions that failed to live up to expectations and largely the game confined to midfield skirmishes.
ELBA Pure Water and Higher Education Commission (HEC) are other teams in the Group. The airmen played their usual steady game, going through the motions stoically and at their own pace. They were the better team in the first half, holding the bigger part of ball possession, and could have gone in front but winger Nauman Ahmed failed to show promise in front of cage with Railway's keeper and skipper Tariq no way in the 19th minute.
The Railwaymen, who played A-Division Soccer in 2006 and 2007, always looked dangerous on the counter-attack, one of which brought about the opener in the 26th minute as Naveed Riaz drilled a Muhammad Afzal pass into the side netting.
PAF, National Champions in 1986 under Najibullah Najmi, had to blame for the draw, as their Nowshera-born striker Badshah Gul fumbled three clear-cut chances in the second half.
He failed to slip the ball into net after fine work by skipper Muhammad Pervez in the 56th minute and eight minutes later his header off international winger Arshed Jan's cross went past keeper Tariq and left post. Gul was also aimless in the 82nd minute off Nauman's through pass that caused panic in Railways area.
Railways, National title holder in 1969 and 1984, occupied defensive strategy under Pakistan Olympic team coach Muhammad Rasheed and their chances fell in front of international Zaheer Abbas and Muhammad Saleem but they failed to beat Air Force keeper Khalid Khan in the 47th and 79th minute, respectively. It was fine start for 31-year old Khyber Agency-born keeper Khalid in ongoing show and he received words of praise from manager Wing Comdr. Mehmood Zaidi and coach Jader Campella. It was tough game controlled by FIFA Referee Shafaat Habib who had shown Yellow Card to one player of each team.