The final round of the 2016 PFF Cup continued yesterday (10 February) at various venues in Lahore.
Group C matches saw 4-time Pakistan Premier Football League champions and 5-time National Football Challenge Cup winners Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) work hard to beat Bahawalpur’s Ashraf Sugar Mills 3-0 at Raiders Ground (Faisal Town).
KRL, boosted with inclusion of Pakistan internationals in defender Muhammad Ahmed (ex Issa Town FC, Bahrain) and winger Muhammad Adil (ex FC Dordoi Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – currently on trial in Malta), had to work hard to beat ASM.
After being held at bay for most of the game, KRL scored in final 11 minutes with Adil opening the scoring in 79th minute. Muhammad Hanif made it 2-0 by scoring from an Adil cross in 86th minute before Muhammad Salman making it 3-0 in stoppage time.
Other Group C match saw 1993 PFF Cup winners and 2013 National Challenge Cup winners National Bank (NBP) edged Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) 1-0 at Fame FC Ground (Model Town) with a solitary goal from Muhammad Maqbool in 57th minute.
This was first time SNGPL and ASM were competing in main rounds of a PFF-held cup event.
Group B saw WAPDA edge Police 1-0 at Raiders Ground with a lone early goal from Ahsan Ali (4th minute). WAPDA had previously won four National Football Championships and 4 Pakistan Premier League titles whilst finishing runners-up twice in the old PFF Cup.
Other Group B match at Fame Ground saw Navy hold Sui Southern Gas Company to a nervy 0-0 draw. Navy had won their lone PFF Cup title back in 1998.
FIXTURES FOR 11 Feb 2016
Group A: Pakistan Army vs Karachi United 11:30 pm at Raiders FC Ground, Faisal Town
Group A: Saif Textiles vs KPT at 2:30 pm At Fame Club Ground, Model Town
Group D: Railways vs PAF at 2:30 pm at Raiders FC Ground, Faisal Town
All match information provided by PFF Cup 2016 Media Coordinator Riaz Ahmed.
