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Match Reports
Karachi United
Youth had three games lined up during the tour against Staffordshire Rangers,
Middlewidch School, and Tranmere Rovers Football Club U14. The games were broken
up into 20 minute thirds to give the coaches an opportunity to interact more
with the players. Moreover, the final match of the tour was set-up in Liverpool
against a youth team from the most successful youth program in Britain so that
the boys could get a taste of professional football of the highest standard.
KARACHI UNITED YOUTH v. STAFFORDSHIRE RANGERS
The first
match of the tour kicked off at the picturesque setting of Denstone College. The
opponents, Staffordshire Rangers, were amongst the best school teams in the
region, and thus looked a force to be reckoned with.
KU started off slowly, and
Staffordshire dominated the opening exchanges. Eventually, Staffordshire
punished KU for sitting too deep in their own half and took a quick free-kick,
catching the
defence
off-guard, to find the net. However, almost instantly, Daniyal Alvi, having
picked up the ball in his own half, made a forging run down the left and after a
few swift exchanges between Mikaeel Naseer and Zaid Kerai, the latter slotted
the ball into the net. Lifted by the response, KU battled hard and caused
Staffordshire some problems in the opening period, and deservedly went into the
break 1-1.
The second
third followed a similar pattern to the first with Staffordshire doing much of
the attacking, and KU having to fight hard to gain possession. The second period
also tested goalkeeper Danyal Gilani who pulled some fine saves and kept KU in
the game. However, a glimpse of KU’s passing game was also there for all to see
with some eye-catching attacking play, especially from the midfield. Thus, the
second third also ended all square and KU were still in with a chance to steal a
point from one of the best football sides in Manchester.
In the third
period, however, as legs tired, and the boys struggled to cope with the change
in match conditions, the match eventually slipped away. With 15 minutes to run
on the clock, KU’s resilient defending and Danyal Gilani’s brilliant keeping
were finally overcome by some powerful attacking play by Staffordshire, making
it 2-1. As heads dropped, so did the respectability of the score line as
Staffordshire piled on the pressure scoring two late goals before the final
whistle blew.
FINAL SCORE:
KARACHI UNITED
YOUTH 1 – 4 STAFFORDHSIRE RANGERS
COACHES’
VERIDCT:
KU Youth
played remarkably well considering the change in climate, surroundings, and
overall game play in Manchester. The score line is not a fair reflection of the
game itself, as the boys matched the opponents for 75% of the game. Hence,
though the score line suggests otherwise, a pleasing start to the tour.
KU GOLDEN
MOMENT:
Zaid Kerai -
scoring KU’s first goal of the tour after some brilliant attacking work.
KARACHI UNITED YOUTH v. MIDDLEWIDCH SCHOOL
Following two days of
gruelling
training sessions and plenty of new football concepts, Karachi United squared
off against Middlewidch School in the second match of the tour. Middlewidch, in
being physically superior to the previous opponents and also comprising of two
under 15 Manchester United Academy players and a few from Crewe Alexander,
clearly appeared to offer even more of a test than Staffordshire.
Indeed, straight from the kick
off, Middlewidch’s physical superiority and quickness in speed and movement
showed. Karachi United were slow to start once again, and struggled to get a
hold of the ball. Finally, half way through the first third, Karachi United’s
over-worked
defence
gave way, and a long range effort provided Middlewidch an early lead. With the
pressure being piled on, especially from the flanks, Karachi United struggled to
keep Middlewidch at bay, and conceded two further goals before the first
interval.
After receiving fierce
instructions from the coaches during the break, Karachi United showed much more
grit and determination in the second third. The midfield, led by Shahab Raza and
Danesh Gilani, started winning the 50-50 balls, and opening up play. Middlewidch,
who had shown their dominance in the first period, suddenly found it a lot more
difficult to break down Karachi United’s defensive barrier. However, despite the
success of the
defence
in keeping a clean sheet in the second period, Karachi United could not
capitalize in attack to force a goal themselves, and the second interval ended
goalless.
The third period held an
unfortunate resemblance to the one played against Staffordshire Rangers. As the
final third approached its end, Karachi United started showing signs of
tiredness and lapses in concentration. Middlewidch finally found ways past the
midfield bank of four to probe open the
defence,
most successfully from the wings. As the professional under 15 players bombarded
quality crosses into the box, Ahsan Minhas’ dominance in the air and Faizan
Amlani’s organization qualities were finally overpowered after winning many of
their battles all day. Hence, ultimately, the final third ended with Middlewidch
scoring three late goals to show a rather harsh score line.
FINAL SCORE:
KARACHI UNITED
YOUTH 0 – 6 MIDDLEWIDCH SCHOOL
COACHES’
VERDICT:
Though Karachi
United were physically weaker than their opponents and started rather poorly,
they showed plenty of resolve and character in the middle third and matched
Middlewidch strength to strength. Unfortunately, a better team, the vastly
different playing conditions and exhaustion finally got the better of them
towards the end.
KU GOLDEN
MOMENT:
Mikaeel Naseer
- after being clattered by a defender three times his size, bounces straight
back up to tackle the ball back and beat him with a superbly executed scissor
move.
KARACHI UNITED YOUTH v. TRANMERE ROVERS FOOTBALL
CLUB U 14
The finale of
the tour. Statistically proven as the best youth club program in England,
Tranmere Rovers was obviously going to be the toughest test KU Youth has ever
faced. Moreover, this time around, the boys had an opportunity to experience
away travel to play on the glorious pitches at Tranmere.
Split into
four quarters this time, the first period started much as it had in the previous
games. Karachi United were forced onto the back foot almost immediately and
could only watch as Tranmere Rovers stroked the ball around the park to feel
themselves into the game. Fortunately, the back four and Danyal Gilani were once
again on the top of their game to keep the score line level for much of the
first quarter. However, with two minutes to run on the clock, Tranmere Rovers
were awarded a soft penalty to take a lead into the second period.
As Tranmere
gradually settled into the game and picked up the momentum, KU found it
increasingly difficult to match them. Indeed, the second period highlighted the
gulf in quality between the two sides as Tranmere passed the ball around
effortlessly even to the admiration of Karachi United’s coaching staff.
Conceding four wonderfully worked goals in the second twenty minute period, KU
Youth worked hard but could only watch and admire the class of the opponents as
they waited for the whistle to give them an opportunity to recuperate.
The third
period of the game probably provided the KU coaching staff with the most
pleasing performance of the tour. Having suffered an onslaught of goals in the
second quarter, the boys showed spirit, determination and skill against one of
the best youth teams in the country to hold them goalless. Moreover, as opposed
to the general pattern of the match where KU Youth were doing much of the
defending, in this quarter, the team showed their attacking ability, much to the
joy of Imran Ali. In fact, KU came closest to scoring in the third period, as
captain Danesh Gilani rattled the bar, capping a fine move from the left
involving Daniyal Alvi and Ammar Rehman.
As KU came out
with confidence in the last period of the game, Tranmere started with all guns
blazing. Thus, KU were almost immediately forced onto the back foot once again.
Moreover, as in other games, tiredness and the fatigue of a long week started to
take its toll towards the end as Tranmere took full advantage. And though KU
threatened to knick a goal a few times, the last quarter ended with a flurry of
goals, perhaps rightly reflecting the dominance of the home team.
FINAL SCORE:
KARACHI UNITED
YOUTH 0 – 8 TRANMERE ROVERS U 14
COACHES’
VERDICT:
Karachi United
fared very well against a most impressive youth side. Most encouraging was the
third quarter as the team played not only played with heart and character, but
also skill and patience; for matching a professional outfit with such quality
for 20 minutes is an achievement in itself. However, Tranmere also deserve a
special mention for playing a delightful game of football the way it should be
played.
KU GOLDEN
MOMENT:
Danesh Gilani
– after some fine interplay down the left, strikes a blistering shot which
hammers the bar, almost giving Karachi United a well deserved goal, and coach
Gareth Prosser a reason to run onto the pitch (which he did anyway!).
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