Kohat Triumphs in a thrilling battle

ABBOTTABAD
The first semifinal of the 5th All Pakistan Haji Habibur Rehman Memorial Football Tournament, underway at Kunj Football Stadium Abbottabad, turned into a thrilling and unforgettable encounter as DFA Kohat edged out United FC Lucky Marwat in a nail-biting penalty shootout by 5–4, booking their spot in the grand final.
The stadium was packed with passionate spectators who cheered every attack with great enthusiasm. Both teams displayed outstanding skill and determination throughout the match. The first half went in Kohat’s favor as their forward broke the deadlock with a brilliant goal. Their solid defense and exceptional goalkeeping prevented Lucky Marwat from equalizing. Soon after, Kohat doubled their lead with another fine strike, putting strong pressure on their opponents.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second half, as Lucky Marwat FC launched a fierce comeback, scoring three consecutive goals to level the match at 3–3. The contest remained tied until the final whistle, taking the game into a tense penalty shootout. In the decisive moments, Kohat’s players held their nerves, converting all key kicks to seal a 5–4 victory and secure their place in the final.
The chief guest of the match was Sardar Hakamdad Khan, Managing Director of Perfect Palace Hotel, while Sardar Sarfaraz, Senior Vice President of Paramedics Association, was the guest of honor. Other notable attendees included Arshad Munir, Owais Khan, Mazhar Mahmood, Sardar Azam, Tahir Papa, Khanwez Kala Khan, Abdul Malik Khan, Shamsur Rehman, and Saeed Qureshi (former hockey player).
Sardar Muaz officiated the match as referee, assisted by Zahid Cheema and Basit Khan, while Adil Khan Jadoon served as the match commissioner. Fareedoon Khan and Shoukat Hussain provided live commentary, keeping the audience engaged and amplifying the excitement of this gripping contest.
The second semifinal will be played tomorrow (Tuesday) between Chitral Markhor and Siddiqia FC Abbottabad, which is expected to further heighten the excitement ahead of the grand finale.