Lahore, 13 December : The 2010 edition of Pakistan Premier Football is still open for KESC 51 points, Army 49, KRL 48, PIA 47, KPT 45, Afghan FC 39 to get second spot after Champion Pakistan WAPDA who won the event on Sunday at KPT – Benazir Sports Complex, West Wharf Road, Kharadar, Karachi. National Champions on eight occasions, WAPDA gathered unbeatable 64 points in their 26 of the allotted 30 matches with twenty wins, four drawn games and goal counts of 56-16. Pakistan WAPDA also earned passage into the 7th AFC President’s Cup qualifier 2011, thus becoming 56th National Champion of Pakistan. The 240th and last Premier League match will be all-electricity tie on 30 December with KESC taking on WAPDA at Peoples Sports Complex, Mauripur Road, Lyari Town (2.30 PM).
Three more matches were decided in the marathon League. Little Muhammad bin Younus became the leading scorer of KPT with his tenth goal of the event. He infact landed the opener in the 8th minute in KPT’s 2-0 win over PEL at KPT – Benazir Sports Complex, West Wharf Road, Kharadar, Karachi. The Portmen thumped goals in early minutes of each session. Their second goal emerged in the 50th minute when striker Shahid Salim saw his drive went past keeper Saqib Hanif’s left hand.
Pakistani captain Muhammad Essa saved KESC from sure defeat against Navy in 1-1 draw at Peoples Sports Complex, Mauripur Road, Lyari Town. The seamen were appeared for three points when they led 1-0 through Bilal Afridi’s 29th minute goal. Down 0-1 at interval, KESC recovered with relentless effort when Essa moved into Rehman’s pass to divert the ball into 52nd minute.It was Essa’s twelfth goal of the show.
Sharafi Goth’s Korangi Baloch Stadium, Landhi Town provided exciting PIA-PAF 2-2 all-airmen clash with PAF winger Erfan Ali hammered last-ditch winner in the 89th minute. Winger Hassnain Abbas surged PIA ahead in the 31st minute and they kept their lead until interval. Arif Nawaz neutralized the lead in the 50th minut and PIA regained lead in the 59th minute through spearhead Shakir Lashari who made it 2-1.It was left to 1986 Champion PAF’s front line player Erfan to make it 2-2.
Meanwhile the PFF League PTV – Pak Steel tie played for academic interest at Railway Stadium, Lahore as both sides were already eliminated losing both their first two matches. Steel’s defender Illyas Ahmed gave gifted goal to PTV when he turned the ball past his own keeper in the 5th minute. Midfielder Muhammad Amin fired equalizer for Steel in the 20th minute and they got the lead in the 40th minute through Abdul Wahab. Steel led 2-1 at recess and lost the advantage of slender lead when PTV’s Fakhre Alam brought the scoreline to 2-2.
Tuesday (14 Dec) Fixture:
Premier League: HBL v KRL (Peoples Sports Complex, Mauripur Road, Lyari Town 2.30 PM), NBP v WAPDA (Sharafi Goth’s Korangi Baloch Stadium, Landhi Town 2.30 PM), SSGC v Army (KPT – Benazir Sports Complex, West Wharf Road, Kharadar, Karachi 2.30 PM)
PFF League: Police v Railways (Railway Stadium 2 PM)