KARACHI: Former champions Army joined holders Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at the summit on points basis after inflicting a 2-0 defeat on Lahore’s Wohaib FC, while Chaman’s Muslim FC outgunned Karachi Port Trust (KPT) 2-1 in the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League on Thursday.
At the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, Ansar Abbas once again emerged as the top performer, scoring in the 45th and 82nd minutes to shepherd soldiers to an easy victory over struggling Wohaib FC to take their points to 43.
“The team played extremely well today,” Army skipper Jaffar Khan told ‘The News’. “Ansar is back in form and has been scoring consistently for the last few matches. We have to play a game against ZTBL on November 15. So far we have been satisfied with our performance and more will depend on the Quetta and Karachi rounds,” added Jaffar, also Pakistan team captain.
Jaffar, who plays as goalkeeper, will miss his team’s next game against ZTBL as he is set to leave for Singapore with the national team for FIFA friendly against Singapore to be held on November 19.
Both Army and KRL have 43 points at the top spot, with the latter having a substantial edge over the former on goal and match difference. KRL have played 17 and Army have appeared in 20 matches so far.
Wohaib Club midfielder Naeem Akhtar was declared the best player of the show.
At the Government High School Ground in Chaman, impressive Muslim FC recorded their ninth win of the season from 20 games when they came from behind to beat KPT after a tough fight watched by a huge crowd.
Sarmad put KPT ahead in the 28th minute. However, Muslim FC, who have emerged as a promising club in the season, bounced back in the game through Asmatullah who struck in the 38th minute.
At half time, the match was evenly poised at 1-1.
After the breather, Muslim FC put pressure on the visitors and took lead through Hayatullah who landed a splendid goal when his pile-driver from 28 yards went into the net in the 55th minute. Hayatullah is the uncle of Asmatullah.
The win propelled Muslim FC to 34 points at the fifth place, while KPT have 17 points from 18 meetings. “It was a fine match and we dominated it throughout,” Muslim FC coach Mohammad Dawood told this correspondent. “We did not give much room to KPT. They got just one chance and converted it due to a blunder from our defender,” said Dawood, who looked very happy.
In Islamabad, former four-time champions WAPDA whipped Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) 3-0, recording their sixth victory to take their points tally to 25 from 19 matches.
Striker Waseem Abbas placed WAPDA on the front foot with a fine field effort in the 30th minute and the lead lasted till half time.
WAPDA went all out after the breather and doubled their lead when Mohammad found the net in the 57th minute. Zain Ullah then came into action, scoring the third for the visitors in the 85th minute to complete the rout.
International midfielder Zulfiqar Ali Shah played a pivotal role in WAPDA’s triumph, which earned him the best player award of Rs2,500.
This is the first time that the PFF is awarding incentives in every game to the best player and the best scorer.
Today’s fixtures: Baloch FC v NBP (Nushki Stadium, Nushki), KRL v PMC Athletico (KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi).
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012(9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Thursday, November 08, 2012)
Match # 145
WAPDA beat ZTBL 3:0 @ 14:30 PST @ Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan
Scorer WAPDA: Waseem Abbas (FW) 1 Goal 30 Mnt, Muhammad (MF) 1 Goal @ 57 Mnt and Zain Ullah (FW) 1 Goal @ 85 Mnt.
Best Player: Zulfiqar Shah (MF) of WAPDA
Best Scorer: Zain Ullah (FW) of WAPDA
Match Commissioner: Gohar Zaman Cell # 0300-9003002
Match # 146
Muslim FC beat KPT 2:1 @ 15:00 PST @ Govt. High School, Chaman, Pakistan
Scorer Muslim FC: Asmat Ullah (FW) 1 Goal @ 38 Mnt and Hayat Ullah (MF) 1 Goal @ 55 Mnt.
Scorer KPT: Sarmad (FW) 1 Goal @ 28 Mnt.
Yellow Card Muslim FC: Abdul Hakim (DF) @ 51 Mnt and Muhammad Dawood (MF) @ 86 Mnt.
Yellow Card KPT: Sajid Hussain (GK) @ 44 Mnt.
Best Player: Asmat Ullah (FW) of Muslim FC
Best Scorer: Hayat Ullah (MF) of Muslim FC
Match Commissioner: Salah-ud-Din Awan Cell # 0302-5932197
(It is pertinent to mention here that this match was observed by more than fifteen thousand Peoples)
Match # 147
Army beat Wohaib FC 2:0 @ 12:00 PST @ Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan
Scorer Army: Ansar Abbas (FW) 2 Goals @ 45, 82 Mnts.
Yellow Card Army: Muhammad Ishfaq (DF) @ 73 Mnt.
Yellow Card: Naeem Ullah (FW) @ 86 Mnt.
Best Player: Naeem Akhter (MF) of Wohaib FC
Best Scorer: Ansar Abbas (FW) of Army
Match Commissioner: Gohar Zaman Cell # 0300-9003002
9th PPFL-2012 Fixture :( Friday, November 09, 2012)
Match # 148 Baloch FC Vs NBP @ 15:00 PST @ Noshki Football Stadium, Nushki, Pakistan
Match # 149 KRL Vs PMC FC @ 14:30 PST @ KRL Football Stadium, Rawalpindi,
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KRL | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 10 | +30 | 43 | W W W W W | ||
| 2 |  |
Pakistan Army | 20 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 8 | +21 | 43 | W W W W L | |
| 3 | |
Karachi Electric | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 33 | 12 | +21 | 39 | W W W W L | |
| 4 |  |
Pakistan Air Force | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 35 | 11 | +24 | 38 | D W W D W | |
| 5 | |
Muslim | 20 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 22 | +3 | 34 | W D W W W | |
| 6 | |
National Bank | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 30 | D L L D W | |
| 7 | WAPDA | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 22 | +6 | 25 | W L L L D | ||
| 8 | Pakistan Navy | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 20 | D L D W D | ||
| 9 | |
ZTBL | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 19 | L D W D W | |
| 10 | |
Pakistan Airlines | 16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 17 | D L L L D | |
| 11 | |
Karachi Port Trust | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 27 | -12 | 17 | L D L D L | |
| 12 | |
Habib Bank | 19 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 25 | -15 | 17 | D L D L L | |
| 13 | |
Afghan | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 22 | -10 | 16 | L D W D D | |
| 14 | |
PMC Athletico | 18 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 18 | -5 | 14 | D D L D L | |
| 15 | |
Baloch | 18 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 33 | -28 | 9 | D L L L L | |
| 16 | |
Wohaib | 19 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 37 | -29 | 8 | L L L L W |