Lahore, 15 November: Three more matches were decided in Pakistan Premier Football League. Lahore-based PEL drew 2-2 with 1986 National Champion PAF at glittering Model Town Football Academy Ground, Lahore. PMC Athletico Club Faisalabad failed to absorb pressure of Navy and suffered 0-3 defeat at PMC Football Ground, Faisalabad. Navy opened the proceedings in superb style with two sweetly-timed goals through midfielder Jabbar Hussain and winger Sajjad Ahmed in the 7th and ninth minute. Navy led 2-0 at interval and struck their third goal in the 69th minute through Asif Bakhsh. By virtue of their ninth win, Navy jumped to fifth place in 16-team table with 34 points after League topper WAPDA, Army, KESC and KRL.
Baloch FC, Nushki played stubborn football to hold KPT 0-0 at Nushki Football Stadium, Nushki. Afghan FC- PIA tie was postponed due to tense situation around the venue at Govt High School, Chaman.
The PEL-PAF thriller turned out to be one of the best match of the event. PAF were 2-1 up at interval at interval and both the goal keepers- ageing Khalid Khan (PAF) and young Saqib Hanif (PEL) – had stifling time throughout the match. Both of them also conceded a goal inside twelve minutes.
PAF, looking for revenge after defeat against PEL at Peshawar in the first leg, were 2-1 up at one stage but 74th minute goal by PEL’s spearhead Asmat Ullah disturbed their plan of a win as exciting battle ended 2-2. It was Asmat’s fifth goal of the event.
PEL opened the affair in whirlwind fashion and took 6th minute lead when Faisalabad-born front runner Muhammad Mujahid went on his own, outpaced central defender Nadeem Munawar and drove the ball into right corner. Hardly suix minutes had elapsed PAF committed an error when their keeper Khalid Khan, from Peshawar, collided with Asmat Ullah and striker Saad Ullah was on hand to drove the ball in with 20 meter right footed shot.
PAF skipper Arshed Jan, former Pakistani Vice Captain, now 36, was instrumental in PAF’s second goal when his low drive from right wing took a little deflection from Munawar, leaving keeper Saqib in no man’s land.
The 166 matches of 240-match Pakistan Premier Football League had come to conclusion on Monday. The remaining 74 matches – 56 in Karachi, ten in Chaman, eight in Nushki – will resume after Eid Ul Adha at Karachi when on Wednesday, 24 November, PIA will face Young Blood FC, Sahiwal at Korangi Baloch Stadium and SSGC will take on PMC Athletico Club Faisalabad at KPT Football Stadium, Karachi.