KARACHI: Former champions Army joined leaders Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) on the top spot on the basis of points after beating Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) 1-0 in the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League on Thursday, while Afghan FC also snatched a 1-0 triumph against injury-hit Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
At the Army Stadium in Rawalpindi, international striker Ansar Abbas fired the lone goal in the 17th minute as Army eventually edged the visitors ZTBL after a tough fight to stretch their tally to 46 from 21 meetings.
KRL also stand on 46 points, but they have a remarkable edge over the soldiers both on goal and match difference and are well set to wear the crown for the third consecutive time.
Army’s defender Shahid Zameer was declared the best player for his fine job in the deep.
ZTBL, playing for the first time in the top league, have 20 points from as many matches.
At the Government High School Ground in Chaman, Jadeed Khan Pathan struck in the 58th minute to propel Afghan FC to a narrow win over PIA.
“Our seven to eight key players are injured and we are playing with the second string and that is why are unable to produce the desired results,” PIA coach Shamim Khan told ‘The News’ from Chaman.
PIA had also lost their previous game 0-2 at the same venue against Muslim FC the other day.
The win lifted Afghan FC to 25 points from 20 games, while PIA were left trailing at 17 points from 18 appearances.
Sources said that Jadeed was expelled by the Pakistan coach Zavisa Milosavljevic for joining the camp for the Singapore tour late and the league’s technical rules say that a player who does not join the national team camp in time will not be eligible to play in the Premier League.
Sources also claimed that the national team’s skipper Jaffar Khan was not punished although he too joined the camp late.
A PFF official sent a message by his cell phone to the teams’ officials to warn them that if their players did not join the camp in time they would not be allowed to appear in any game of the Premier League.
The message is available with this correspondent.
But a PFF official said that Jaffar did not join the camp in time because he was not released by Army in time.
Pathan not only joined the camp late, but also made a big blunder by playing a Premier League match without joining the camp for the national duty.
Navy are scheduled to face Muslim FC in Chaman on Friday (today). However, Navy have not sent their team and have forfeited the game due to security reasons, a Navy official said.
Navy have already forfeited their last game against Afghan FC and they will also give a walkover to Baloch FC in their next match.
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012(9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Thursday, November 15, 2012)
Match # 158
Afghan FC beat PIA 1:0 @ 15:00 PST @ Government High School, Chaman, Pakistan
Scorer Afghan FC: Jadeed Khan Pathan (FW) 1 Goal @ 58 Mnt.
Best Player: Khan Junior (DF) of Afghan FC
Best Scorer: Jadeed Khan Pathan (FW) of Afghan FC
Match Commissioner: Salah-ud-Din Awan Cell # 0302-5932197
Match # 159
Army beat ZTBL 1:0 @ 14:30 PST @ Army Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Scorer Army: Ansar Abbas (FW) 1 Goal @ 17 Mnt.
Yellow Card ZTBL: Adnan (MF) @ 66 Mnt.
Best Player: Shahid Zameer (DF) of Army
Best Scorer: Ansar Abbas (FW) of Army
Match Commissioner: Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah Cell # 0300-5845782
9th PPFL-2012 Fixture :( Friday, November 16, 2012)
Match # 161 Muslim FC Vs Navy @ 15:00 PST @ Government High School, Chaman, Pakistan
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KRL | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 10 | +33 | 46 | W W W W W | ||
| 2 | Pakistan Army | 21 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 30 | 8 | +22 | 46 | W W W W W | ||
| 3 |  |
Pakistan Air Force | 21 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 38 | 14 | +24 | 40 | D D D W W | |
| 4 | |
Muslim | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 29 | 22 | +7 | 40 | W W W D W | |
| 5 |  |
Karachi Electric | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 33 | 14 | +19 | 39 | L W W W W | |
| 6 | National Bank | 20 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 30 | L D L L D | ||
| 7 | WAPDA | 20 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 24 | +6 | 26 | D W L L L | ||
| 8 | |
Afghan | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 22 | -5 | 25 | W W W L D | |
| 9 | |
Pakistan Navy | 19 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 20 | -4 | 20 | L D L D W | |
| 10 | |
ZTBL | 21 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 24 | -10 | 20 | L D L D W | |
| 11 | |
Pakistan Airlines | 18 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 17 | L L D L L | |
| 12 | |
Karachi Port Trust | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 28 | -13 | 17 | L L D L D | |
| 13 | |
Habib Bank | 20 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 27 | -17 | 17 | L D L D L | |
| 14 | |
Baloch | 20 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 34 | -23 | 15 | W W D L L | |
| 15 | |
PMC Athletico | 19 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 21 | -8 | 14 | L D D L D | |
| 16 | Wohaib | 19 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 37 | -29 | 8 | L L L L W |