ISLAMABAD, May 13 (APP): Wapda defended their National Challenge Cup title with a 1-0 win over SA Gardens at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.
Muhammad Yousaf’s 17th min decisive freekick assisted by Shayek Dost was enough to secure victory in the final game of the National Challenge Cup 2023-24 for Wapda.
SA Gardens came close with Murtaza Hussain unlucky missed the volley in the game’s dying moments.
Wapda captain, Rao Umer Hayat, was awarded the Best Player of the Tournament award, while SA Gardens’ goalkeeper, Salman Ul Haq ‘Kaka’, earned the title of Best Goalkeeper.
Wapda’s Shayek Dost received the title of the Best Goal-scorer with 8 goals in the tournament, with HEC being awarded the Fair Play Trophy for their sportsmanship.
Earlier on Sunday, the Pakistan Army clinched a bronze medal after defeating HEC for third place in the tournament finishing their campaign on a solid note.
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Highlights of WAPDA’s 1-0 win over SA Gardens in Final of 2023-24 National Challenge Cup last night at Jinnah Stadium Islamabad.
Yousaf Ahmed gave WAPDA an early lead. But Murtaza Hussain came so close to equalizing for SA Gardens late.
Video via PFF #PakistanFootball pic.twitter.com/SLKl6nN3Xa
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) May 13, 2024
SA Gardens and Wapda reached the final after defeating the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Army respectively in the semi-finals.
In the first semifinal, SA Gardens held their nerve and defeated the Higher Education Commission (HEC) by 4-2 in a thrilling penalty shootout, confirming their maiden entry in the National Challenge Cup final.
In the second semi-final, Wapda showed their championship grit against the Pakistan Army defeating them by 2-0, with Ahmed Fahim scoring the first goal from a free kick in the 58th minute and Shayek Dost scoring the second goal in the 90th minute.
A total of 16 teams participated in the National Challenge Cup (NCC), divided into four groups, each comprising four teams.
