KARACHI, Dec 12: Burma Mohammadan (Korangi) managed to edge past Kalri Star (Lyari) 1-0 in the ninth Karachi United Football League (KUFL) in their Group ‘A’ encounter at the CDGK Stadium while Al-Shahbaz (Korangi) returned to winning ways by defeating Drigh Road Union 2-1 at Korangi Baloch Stadium on Sunday evening.

Burma Mohammadan dominated the game from the start as Kalri Star struggled to take home advantage. Burma strikers Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Raees and Saifullah put the pressure on Kalri Star’s defense but the score remained 0-0 at half time.

The second half saw both sides go all out for that elusive goal giving the spectators a real treat of the action. Burma Mohammadan nearly took the lead when striker Saifullah netted the ball but referee Adnan Khan surprisingly disallowed the goal in the 54th minute.

Burma’s under-18 striker Mohammad Raees took the lead in the third minute later through winger Mohammad Imran’s cross from the right flank. Kalri Star attempted to equalise but Burma’s international goalie Abdul Ghani (KPT) kept out attempts from Sarvar Baloch, Javed Ibrahim and Nadeem Baloch to maintain the 1-0 lead till the final whistle.

In the other encounter Al-Shahbaz began with confidence as its striker Fareed Alam, Shah Alam, Jahangir Khan and Abdul Rahman put Drigh Road Union’s defense under immense pleasure from their fast-paced attacks. Al-Shahbaz went ahead when front runner Abdul Rehman netted the ball from Mohammad Rafiq’s cross from the left flank in the 39th minute making it 1-0, the only goal scored in the first half.

In the beginning of the second half Drigh Road Union levelled the score through substitute Mohammad Ahsan in the 46th minute when the goalkeeper Manzoor Alam came out from the area and Ahsan sent the ball into the vacant post from 20 metres distance.

Fareed Alam missed a golden opportunity and took the lead again for Al-Shahbaz when he was in a one to one position before opponent goalie Mohammad Jahangir in the 56th minute.

However, striker Shah Alam made it 2-0 in the 75th min when he received a beautiful pass in front of the goalkeeper from Fareed Alam in the right flank. Drigh Road Union strikers’ several attempts to level the score went in vain.

Burma Mohammadan and Al-Shahbaz have nine points each from three and five games, respectively while Kalri Star and Drigh Road Union have three points each from four and six games, respectively.

The matches were supervised by referees Adnan Khan, Naseer Umer, Aziz Pasha, Ghulam Ali, Hafeez Ahmed and Saleem Faiz while Abdul Karim and Abdul Qayyum were the match commissioners.