Tarnol Pioneer FC Edge Cabinet FC In Thrilling 9-A-Side Friendly

Tarnol Pioneer FC travelled to face Cabinet FC on 30 December 2025 in a lively 9-a-side friendly match that kicked off at 3:30pm. The encounter, played over 90 minutes plus added time, ended in a thrilling 4-3 victory for Tarnol Pioneer FC away from home.

Tarnol Pioneer lined up in a 3-3-2 formation, a setup designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking fluidity. Syed Mujtaba took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, tasked with organising the back three of Ameer Talha at right defender, Yaseen Khan centrally, and Ameer Hanzala on the left. Ahead of them, the midfield trio consisted of Zohaib Niaz on the right, Aurang Zeb centrally, and Malik Waqas on the left, expected to link defence and attack while providing width and control. Up front, the two forwards were Ameer Hamza on the right and Mairaj Khan on the left, both charged with spearheading the offensive efforts and creating goal-scoring opportunities. The bench featured one substitute, M Umair Khan, ready to inject fresh legs if needed.

The match burst into life early on when Tarnol Pioneer took the lead in the 6th minute. Mairaj Khan’s clever assist found Ameer Hamza, who finished clinically to put the visitors ahead. Tarnol Pioneer’s attacking interplay was evident, with the forwards combining well to unsettle Cabinet’s defence.

As the game settled, the visitors doubled their advantage in the 27th minute. This time, Ameer Hamza returned the favour by setting up Mairaj Khan, who made no mistake in slotting home. However, Cabinet FC responded swiftly, pulling a goal back just a minute later in the 28th minute, signalling a shift in momentum.

Cabinet FC continued to press and levelled the scores with a second goal in the 33rd minute, bringing the game to 2-2. Tarnol Pioneer were not to be outdone, though, and restored their lead just two minutes later. Malik Waqas provided a precise assist for Ameer Hamza, who completed his hat-trick in the 35th minute, sending the visitors into a 3-2 lead.

Just before half-time, Tarnol Pioneer made a tactical substitution in the 44th minute, with M Umair Khan replacing the influential Ameer Hamza. This change aimed to maintain energy and defensive stability heading into the break. The first half concluded with Tarnol Pioneer narrowly ahead at 3-2.

The second half saw Cabinet FC intensify their efforts and they found an equaliser in the 53rd minute, making it 3-3 and setting up a tense finale. Tarnol Pioneer responded with composure and regained the lead in the 57th minute when Ameer Hanzala, the left defender, ventured forward to score from a well-delivered assist by Mairaj Khan. This goal proved decisive as Tarnol Pioneer held on to their 4-3 advantage until the final whistle.

Throughout the match, Tarnol Pioneer’s 3-3-2 formation allowed them to maintain a strong defensive shape while exploiting the attacking talents of their forwards and midfielders. The defensive trio, particularly Yaseen Khan and Ameer Hanzala, balanced their duties effectively, with Hanzala’s late goal highlighting his contribution going forward. The midfield trio worked tirelessly to link play and support both defence and attack, while the front two combined superbly to create and convert chances.

Tarnol Pioneer’s solitary substitute, M Umair Khan, came on late in the first half and helped the team see out the match successfully. The victory away from home in this friendly will no doubt boost confidence as the team looks ahead to future fixtures.