KARACHI: Goalkeeper Dilawar Hussain saved a penalty to help Habib Bank Limited (HBL) hold leaders Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to a goalless draw in their match of 9th Pakistan Premier Football League in which two top players of KESC got injured here at the People’s Sports Complex on Thursday.
KESC received a major blow in the 19th minute when Chitral-born striker Mohammad Rasool got injured in a collision with HBL keeper Dilawar during a rally. Rasool suffered serious injuries on his face and legs and remained unconscious for 25 minutes. The Rangers’ doctor present on the occasion extended first aid to the international player.
Rasool’s condition was out of danger but he did not remember what had happened to him.
The referee showed a yellow card to the HBL keeper for charging Rasool with his knee and also awarded a penalty to KESC. But HBL keeper saved Mohammad Essa’s shot from the spot acrobatically, saving the bankers from a blow that could have cost them the game.
Soon after the goalless first half, KESC also lost their skipper Essa who got a knee injury as he was nastily charged by the opponents while attempting a volley.
“I am using ice to relieve the pain. The injury does not look light and I will show it to the doctor tomorrow,” said Essa, who is awaiting his visa for China where he is to attend a week-long coaching course. He is expected to leave for Beijing on September 30.
“The match result isn’t bothering me, but I am concerned about my and Rasool’s injury which could create problems for the team,” Essa said.
The single point helped KESC move to 21 points from nine games, while HBL took a sigh of relief, extending their points to five from nine matches.
HBL coach Yousuf Khan is happy with the outcome. “I am happy as we were able to earn a point against a top team,” Yousuf said. “After Essa and Rasool got injured, we dominated the game and also got a few chances but could not convert them,” he said.
“All the players are desperate for their first victory in the season which will put confidence in them,” HBL coach added.
At the Korangi Baloch Football Ground in Sharafi Goth, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) produced their third win from seven games when they snatched a narrow 1-0 triumph over Chaman’s Afghan FC.
Riaz Ahmad scored the lone goal in the 83rd minute. PIA, who were beaten by Muslim FC 1-0 a few days back, played well against a truncated Afghan FC on a soft pitch.
The airline moved to 11 points from seven matches, while Afghan FC are struggling at four points from seven appearances.
At the UMT Ground in Lahore, PAF whipped Wohaib Club 3-0 to take their points to eight from seven matches. Wohaib Club are reeling at two points from five matches. Second half goals from Irfan Ali, Saleh Khan, and Muhammad Mujahid helped PAF secure victory.
At the PMC Ground in Faisalabad, hosts PMC held Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to a 1-1 draw to stretch their points tally to four from five matches. ZTBL took the lead in 23rd minute through Izhar-ul-Haq and looked set for their first win before PMC Athletico’s Waqas equalised 3 minutes from time. ZTBL inflated their tally to four points from six meetings.
Today’s fixtures: NBP v Baloch FC (Aga Khan Gymkhana, Karachi), KPT v Muslim FC (KPT Stadium, Karachi).
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012(9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Thursday, September 27, 2012)
Match # 56
PIA beat Afghan FC 1:0 @ 1600 PST @ Korangi Baloch Ground, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer PIA: Riaz Ahmed (FW) 1 Goal @ 83 Mnt
Yellow PIA FC: Shahram Babar (MF) of PIA
Best Player: Abdul Jabbar (FW) of PIA
Best Scorer: Riaz Ahmed (FW) of PIA
Match Commissioner: Iqbal Junior Cell # 0333-3329892
Match # 57
PAF beat Wohaib FC 3:0 @ 1600 PST @ Railway Football Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan
Scorer PAF: Irfan Ali (FW) 1 Goal @ 45 Mnt, Saleh Khan (FW) 1 Goal @ 54 Mnt and M. Mujahid (MF) 1 Goal @ 68 Mnt.
Best Player: Sohail (MF) of PAF
Match Commissioner: Rasheed Mahmood Butt Cell # 0333-4349648
Match # 58
PMC Athletico Vs ZTBL 1:1 Draw @ 1600 PST @ PMC Football Ground, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Scorer PMC FC: Waqas 1 Goal @ 87 Mnt
Scorer ZTBL: Izhar-ul-Haq (FW) 1 Goal @ 23 Mnt.
Yellow Card PMC FC: Naveed Mumtaz (FW) @ 2 Mnt
Yellow Card ZTBL: Haroon Ali Shah (MF) @ 14 Mnt.
Best Player: M. Naveed of PMC FC
Match Commissioner: Mian Bari Cell # 0300-7890300
Match # 58
HBL Vs KESC 0:0 Draw @ 1600 PST @ Peoples Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Yellow Card HBL: Dilwar Hussain (Goal Keeper) @ 19 Mnt.
Match Commissioner: Ali Nawaz Baloch Cell # 0300-2146038
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | H2H | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KESC | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 2 | +16 | 21 | D W W W W | ||
| 2 | National Bank | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 15 | D D W W D | ||
| 3 | KRL | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 14 | D D W W W | ||
| 4 | Muslim | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 6 | +0 | 14 | D D W W L | ||
| 5 | Pakistan Navy | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 13 | D W D L D | ||
| 6 |  |
WAPDA | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 11 | D W D W W | |
| 7 |  |
Pakistan Airlines | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 11 | W L W D D | |
| 8 | |
Pakistan Army | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 8 | D W W D L | |
| 9 | |
Pakistan Air Force | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 8 | W D L D L | |
| 10 | |
Karachi Port Trust | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 8 | D W D L L | |
| 11 | |
Baloch FC | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 13 | -9 | 7 | D D L L L | |
| 12 | |
Habib Bank | 9 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 5 | D D L L D | |
| 13 | |
PMC Athletico | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 4 | D D D D L | |
| 14 | |
Afghan FC | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 4 | L L L W L | |
| 15 | ZTBL | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 4 | D D L D D | ||
| 16 | Wohaib | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 2 | L D L D L |