FC Rovers (Malir Cantt), after a poor start to the campaign, have struck a rich vein of form as they recorded their 2nd successive Group ‘A’ win in emphatic fashion in the 9th UBL Omni Karachi United Football League 2011-12.
A record 9-1 hammering of Frontier City (Baldia Town) at Korangi Baloch Stadium in Sharafi (Karachi) saw FC Rovers inflict 2nd successive defeat for the opposition in their first 2 games of the KUFL campaign. Irfan Junejo scored 5, while Raad-us-Salam got 3 goals to his name in the game.
Surprisingly, Frontier City struck first in the game as they managed a counter-attack after surviving tremendous Rovers’ pressure and Umar Khan scored after 17 minutes on the clock. But Frontier City’s 1-0 lead proved only temporary as Rovers’ star winger Irfan Junejo smartly equalised from a Raad-us-Salam pass just 6 minutes later.
In 30th minute, FC Rovers made it 2-1 when Faraz Pervaiz rounded the Frontier City goalkeeper Ismail Khan and buried his chance in the back of the net. Raad-us-Salam then joined the scoring charts when he made it 3-1 from an Usama Noor pass in 35th minute. Irfan Junejo then scored from the penalty spot to make it 4-1 merely three minutes later as scored remained same at half time.
At half time, both teams were introduced by KUFL organising secretary Riaz Ahmed to the chief guest, former international player and Bab-ul-Islam FC supremo Mutahir Abbas.
In 2nd half, Rovers scored 5 more goals against hapless Frontier City. Raad-us-Salam expertly beat 3 defenders and rounded the goalkeeper to make it 5-1 with arguably the best goal of the game in 60th minute. Irfan Junejo then completed his, and the event’s 8th overall, hat-trick in 72nd minute, before Raad-us-Salam made it 9 hat-tricks when he completed his with a goal 3 minutes later as Rovers led 7-1. Irfan Junejo then scored twice more in 81st and 86th minutes to make it 9-1 overall for Rovers and 5 goals for his name as Frontier City looked completely overwhelmed as a result of the thrashing at the final whistle.
The result made FC Rovers go to 6 points from 5 games while Frontier City remained at zero from 2 games. Referees were Khalid Mumtaz Jami, Iqrar Hussain, Qari Tahir, and match commissioner Abdul Karim.
Today, 26 Nov 2011, 3 games will be played. Kalri Star (Lyari) face Burma Mohammadan (Korangi) at KMC Stadium, Baloch Youth (Garden) face Mauripur Baloch at Aga Khan Gymkhana Ground (Garden West), while Irfan Memorial (Landhi) face Madina Shabaz (Baldia Town) at Korangi Baloch Stadium (Sharafi).
