Lahore, 19 April: Four matches were decided in 21st National Bank Football Cup at two venues of Faisalabad on Tuesday as KRL and PIA went on top of their groups.
KRL maintained 100 percent record in topping Group B with their third straight win. Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) gave no chance to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) at Bohranwali Ground with convincing 3-0 win. One of their scorer was young Saad Ullah who finished top scorer for PEL in PPFL 2010. He struck in the 67th minute after lanky winger Muhammad Qasim opened the scoring in the 25th minute. KRL led 1-0 at interval and striker Kalim Ullah rounded off the tally in the 89th minute.
KRL who lost three final of the event on trot at Chaman (1999), Bahawalpur (2001) and Karachi (2008), suddenly came into their own by winning the Cup at Hyderabad 2009 and Multan 2010 besides Pakistan Football Federation’s blue riband event – PPFL 2009.
In the same Group at PMC Ground, the all-bank affair produced sensational scoreline when experienced Habib Bank Limited (HBL) lost to first timers Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) against the run of play. The all important goal for ZTBL was scored by striker Iftikhar Ali in the 68th minute. The event turned out to be disaster for 1985 Champion HBL who lost all three Group-B outings.
In Group C, Karachi Port Trust (KPT), without their striker Muhammad bin Younus, transferred to KESC, failed to struck a single goal and went down at the hands of Pakistan International Airlines 0-2 at Bohranwali Ground. PIA slotted a goal in each session. Defender Abdul Qadir opened scoring four minutes from interval and spearhead Shakir Lashari doubled the lead five minutes from time as PIA, like KRL, earned their third consecutive win and kept leadership in Group-C. The match was marred by red cards for each team as KPT’s Sajid and PIA’s Abdul Jabbar were sent off.
The meaningless match in same group saw Pakistan Television (PTV) draw 3-3 with Pakistan Police at PMC Ground. PTV led 2-1 at interval but Police made recovery to make it 3-3. The goal scorers for PTV were Muhammad Ali 8, Salah Uddin 42 and Naimat Ullah 79 while Rasheed 38, Nasib Ullah 54, Sana Ullah 58 replied for Police.
Wednesday (20 April) Fixture :
WAPDA v Navy (Bohranwali Ground 2 PM), NBP v Ashraf Mills (PMC Ground 2 PM), KESC v Army (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM), Railway v PMC (PMC Ground 4 PM)