Pakistan Wapda caused sensational win in the NBP National Football Challenge Cup 2009 on Thursday when they eliminated favourite KPT 2-1 to book semi-final berth. According to a message received here, Wapda, which sent weakened team due to preparation for AFC President's Cup at Kathmandu next month, were clearly the better side and took no time to settle.
Under captaincy of Quetta-born midfielder Syed Raza, Wapda had a positive start when Swat-born winger Muhammad Ayaz came close in the 4th minute as his drive rattled the crossbar with header. Ayaz continued his offensive work and Lahore-based team went up in the 19th minute. Ayaz capitalised a long ball from centre and won the one-against-one battle against KPT's keeper Sajid who got finger tips as the ball rolled over goal line.
Ayaz had another clear-cut chance when he broke offside trap in the 43rd minute but onrushing Sajid took the ball away from his legs. Wapda, under former Pakistani skipper Tanveer Ahmed, led 1-0 at interval and suffered a setback in the 52nd minute when Shakargarh-born striker Rizwan Asif was given marching order by Fifa Referee Jahangir Khan. Rizwan, who played Premier Soccer League for Wohaib FC and PEL, raised his legs on keeper Sajid and Jahangir, after consultation with his Assistant Sattar Badini, flashed Red Card in front of Rizwan, current leading scorer with six goals.
Ayaz had another chance in the 64th minute but right-full Majid Ali cleared the ball off the line. He came close again in the 69th minute but his drive off Muzaffar Ali's pass went wildly over the bar. It was all over for Wapda in the 72nd minute when spearhead Mudassar Raj accelerated onto midfielder Mudassar Saeed's pass and hammered the ball low into extreme left corner.