KARACHI: Mohammad Abid Khan’s double placed Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) within striking distance of what would be their third straight crown when they outclassed Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) 3-0 in their game of the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League here at the KPT Stadium on Wednesday.
After the goalless first half, it was Abid who acted as the main destroyer when he managed two clean headers. He was joined on the scoresheet by the key striker Kaleem Ullah, who capitalised on a splendid move.
The victory inflated the 2010 and 2011 champions KRL’s tally to 62 points from 25 meetings. They now need just one win and a draw to grab the coveted title which will also help them once again to qualify for the AFC President’s Cup, the third-tier club championship to be held in the coming months.
But if Army, who have 51 points from 25 games, lose a game in the meantime, it will make the task for KRL even easier as they will then need just a single point to wear the crown.
“Today the team played extremely well,” KRL manager Ayaz Butt told ‘The News’. “We sent in midfielder Mehmood Khan in the second half in place of Saddam Hussain and he turned out to be a real game-changer as he put in his best effort in the middle and fed the frontline splendidly,” Ayaz said.
Earlier, both sides played with high pace in the first half. KRL were unlucky when their lanky striker Kaleem Ullah’s drive hit the post at half way stage of the first session.
It was only in the second half that KRL showed their real game and drew the first blood through Mohammad Abid who headed a setter from Mehmood in the 55th minute. KESC, who did not seem a disciplined side, were close to reduce the deficit, but Mohammad Rasool failed to connect a drive from outside the area.
KRL doubled their lead when Kaleem Ullah carried the ball through one two with Mehmood before steering it past the international keeper Jehangir Khan with an enviable ease in the 82nd minute to take the game away from the hosts.
This was the 32nd goal from Kaleem, who is the leading scorer of the league. Mohammad Rasool of KESC follows him with 24 goals.
Kaleem, who also led Pakistan in the Under-22 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Saudi Arabia last year, has also to his credit this season record seven hat-tricks. “I am very happy that I have a big hand in the achievements of KRL this season,” Kaleem told this correspondent.
KRL produced their last goal through Abid who struck with a juicy header in the 86th minute to complete his brace.
“It’s so nice to be scoring goals,” said Abid.
KESC coach Akber Ali said that Essa’s absence affected the team. “We never conceded so many goals. You know we are missing our skipper Mohammad Essa. He is a great manipulator and knows his job as a skipper well,” said Akber.
“Rasool also played with half fitness but still we will try to win our remaining two games to finish at the second or third spot,” said Akber.
The loss left KESC at 56 points from 28 appearances.
Meanwhile, Muslim FC moved to 53 points from 27 games when they were given a walkover after their rivals and the already relegated Wohaib FC failed to turn up for the match scheduled in Chaman.
Today’s fixtures: Afghan FC v PMC Athletico (Government High School Ground, Chaman), Baloch FC v ZTBL (Nushki Stadium, Nushki, Balochistan).
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KRL | 25 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 60 | 12 | +48 | 62 | W D L W W | ||
| 2 | Karachi Electric | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 57 | 26 | +31 | 56 | L D D W W | ||
| 3 | Pakistan Air Force | 27 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 46 | 18 | +28 | 53 | W D L W W | ||
| 4 |  |
Muslim | 27 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 39 | 22 | +17 | 53 | W W W D W | |
| 5 |  |
Pakistan Army | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 11 | +21 | 51 | L W D D W | |
| 6 | National Bank | 27 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 37 | L W W L L | ||
| 7 | |
Pakistan Airlines | 27 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 25 | +0 | 32 | D D W W W | |
| 8 | |
Pakistan Navy | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 27 | 29 | -2 | 32 | W W W L W | |
| 9 | |
Habib Bank | 28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 34 | -9 | 31 | W W W D W | |
| 10 | Karachi Port Trust | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 32 | 41 | -9 | 30 | L W L W W | ||
| 11 | WAPDA | 25 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 32 | 37 | -5 | 29 | W L L L L | ||
| 12 | |
Afghan FC | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 28 | -7 | 29 | L L W D W | |
| 13 | |
Baloch | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 35 | -15 | 26 | D W W L W | |
| 14 | |
ZTBL | 27 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 18 | 36 | -18 | 23 | L W L L L | |
| 15 | PMC Athletico | 27 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 40 | -23 | 21 | L L D L L | ||
| 16 | Wohaib | 28 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 8 | 69 | -61 | 8 | L L L L L |
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012 (9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Wednesday, December 02, 2013)
Match # 212
Muslim FC Vs Wohaib FC @ 14:30 PST @ Govt. High School Ground, Chaman, Pakistan
(Walkover given in favour of Muslim FC because Wohaib FC did not turn up)
Match Commissioner: Ghulam Muhammad Samad Cell # 0347-8587779
Match # 213
KRL beat KESC 3:0 @ 14:30 PST @ KPT Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer KRL: Muhammad Abid Khan (FW) 2 Goals @ 55, 86 Mnts and Kaleem Ullah (FW) 1 Goal @ 82 Mnt.
Yellow Card KRL: Bilawal-Ur-Rehman (MF) @ 28 Mnt.
Yellow Card KESC: Aurangzeb Baba (DF) @ 10 Mnt.
Best Scorer: Muhammad Abid Khan (FW) of KRL
Best Player: Kaleem Ullah (FW) of KRL
Match Commissioner: Abdul Shakoor Baloch Cell # 0321-9299986
9th Pakistan Premier Football League (9th PPFL-2012)
Tomorrow Fixture ( Thursday, January 03, 2013)
Match # 211 Afghan FC Vs PMC Athletico @ 14:30 PST @ Govt. High School Ground, Chaman, Pakistan
Match # 214 Baloch FC Vs ZTBL @ 13:00 PST @ Nushki Football Stadium, Nushki, Pakistan