KARACHI: Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) came from behind to beat Army 2-1 on Tuesday to keep their hopes alive for finishing as the runners-up in the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League, while Pakistan International Air Lines (PIA) overwhelmed WAPDA 3-1.
At the KPT Stadium here, KESC, powered by Mohammad Rasool’s double, defeated Army after a tough fight to rise to the second spot with 59 points from 29 games.
As KRL have already confirmed themselves as the champions, KESC, Army and Muslim FC are fighting for the second spot.
Two-time champions Army, who had defeated Navy 2-0 the other day with an enviable ease, got onto the score-sheet through their consistent scorer Ansar Abbas in the 36th minute. At half time, the soldiers were leading 1-0.
In the 62nd minute, KESC sent in their injured skipper Mohammad Essa who proved extremely lucky for the team as dashing striker Mohammad Rasool scored goals in the 69th and 73rd minutes to snatch a sensational win for the hosts.
Rasool pushed his tally to 26 in the season, six goals behind the top scorer Kaleemullah of KRL.
The loss left Army at the third place with 57 points from 28 meetings.
“We were really in trouble but the team bounced back when we sent in Essa,” KESC coach Akber Ali told ‘The News’. “We have a chance to finish second and we have to beat WAPDA in our last game on January 13,” Akber said.
At the Korangi Baloch Football Ground in Sharafi Goth here, PIA recorded their eighth win of the season when they outgunned former four-time champions WAPDA to stretch their points to 35 from 29 matches. Mohammad Ali Nawaz put PIA ahead in the fifth minute and the lead lasted till half time.
After the breather PIA played in excellent fashion, adding to their tally through Zeeshan Ali in the 60th minute before international striker Shakir Lashari added to the misery of WAPDA as he landed the third goal for the hosts PIA in the 75th minute.
Two minutes later international midfielder Imran Niazi scored a consolation goal for the visitors. “After Shakir’s recovery we feel a great difference,” PIA coach Shamim Khan said. “WAPDA are not the same team as several of their key players are injured,” said Shamim, also a former international.
The loss left WAPDA at 31 points from 28 appearances. FIFA referee Hidayatullah of Nushki supervised the match. Hidayatullah’s performance will be assessed by the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) referees’ assessor from Hong Kong during the game between National Bank and Army at the same venue on Thursday (tomorrow).
Afghan FC got a walkover when their rivals Pakistan Air Force (PAF) did not turn up for the match scheduled at the Government High School Ground in Chaman.
The output pushed Afghan FC to 35 points from 28 meetings.
Today’s fixtures: Muslim FC v ZTBL (Government High School Ground, Chaman), Baloch FC v PMC FC (Nushki Stadium, Nushki), HBL v KRL (Peoples Sports Complex, Karachi).
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KRL | 27 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 62 | 13 | +49 | 66 | D W W D L | ||
| 2 | Karachi Electric | 29 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 59 | 27 | +32 | 59 | W L D D W | ||
| 3 |  |
Pakistan Army | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 13 | +23 | 57 | L W W L W | |
| 4 | Muslim | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 43 | 22 | +21 | 56 | W W W W D | ||
| 5 |  |
Pakistan Air Force | 29 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 46 | 24 | +22 | 53 | L L W D L | |
| 6 | National Bank | 28 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 38 | D L W W L | ||
| 7 | Pakistan Airlines | 29 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 28 | 27 | +1 | 35 | W L D D W | ||
| 8 | |
Afghan FC | 28 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 28 | 32 | -4 | 35 | W L W L L | |
| 9 | |
Pakistan Navy | 28 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 27 | 31 | -4 | 33 | L D W W W | |
| 10 | |
Baloch | 29 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 27 | 36 | -9 | 33 | W W D D W | |
| 11 | |
Habib Bank | 29 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 27 | 36 | -9 | 32 | D W W W D | |
| 12 | |
WAPDA | 28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 35 | 42 | -7 | 31 | L D D W L | |
| 13 | |
Karachi Port Trust | 28 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 33 | 43 | -10 | 30 | L L W L W | |
| 14 | ZTBL | 29 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 22 | 38 | -16 | 27 | W D L W L | ||
| 15 | PMC Athletico | 29 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 44 | -26 | 24 | L W L L D | ||
| 16 | Wohaib | 30 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 8 | 75 | -67 | 8 | L L L L L |
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012 (9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Tuesday, December 08, 2013)
Match # 226
Afghan FC Vs PAF @ 14:30 PST @ Govt. High School Ground, Chaman, Pakistan
(Walkover given in favour of Afghan FC because PAF did not turn up)
Match Commissioner: Ghulam Muhammad Samad Cell # 0333-7828087
Match # 227
KESC beat Army 2:1 @ 14:30 PST @ KPT Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer KESC: Muhammad Rasool (FW) 2 Goals @ 69, 73 Mnts.
Scorer Army: Ansar Abbas (FW) 1 Goal @ 36 Mnt.
Best Scorer: Muhammad Rasool (FW) of KESC
Best Player: Akbar Ali (DF) of KESC
Match Commissioner: Abdul Shakoor Baloch Cell # 0321-9299986
Match # 228
PIA beat WAPA 3:1 @ 14:30 PST @ Korangi Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer PIA: Muhammad Ali Nawaz (MF) 1 Goal @ 5 Mnt, Zeeshan Ali (DF) 1 Goal @ 60 Mnt and Shakir Lashari (FW) 1 Goal @ 75 Mnt.
Scorer WAPDA: Imran Niazi (MF) 1 Goal @ 77 Mnt.
Yellow Card PIA: Abdul Ghaffar (MF) @ 11 Mnt.
Yellow Card WAPDA: Muhammad Asif (DF) @ 51 Mnt.
Best Scorer: Muhammad Rasool (FW) of KESC
Best Player: Muhammad Bilal Rafi (GK) of KESC
Match Commissioner: Muhammad Iqbal Junior Cell # 0333-3329892
9th Pakistan Premier Football League (9th PPFL-2012)
Tomorrow Fixture ( Tuesday, January 08, 2013)
Match # 229 Muslim FC Vs ZTBL @ 12:00 PST @ Govt. High School Ground, Chaman, Pakistan
Match # 230 Baloch FC Vs PMC FC @ 14:30 PST @ Noushki Football Stadium, Noushki, Pakistan
Match # 231 HBL Vs KRL @ 14:30 PST @ Peoples Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan