Essa guides KESC to win over PIA [The News]

Sports Correspondent  – The News

KARACHI: Mohammad Essa’s solitary goal guided leaders Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to a 1-0 victory over Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in their match of the Pakistan Premier Football League here at the KPT Stadium on Saturday.

Essa, a former Pakistan captain, struck the winner in the 76th minute. He took a shot on a free-kick from Farooq at his chest and controlled it before smashing it past the keeper.

This was the fifth victory for KESC from seven matches that helped them take their points tally to 17, six points ahead of the second-placed Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

“It was a tough and fast-paced match,” Essa told ‘The News’. “Both sides got chances but failed to capitalise on them. In the second half we got six corners in just three to four minutes but could not get advantage of them,” Essa said.

He said his team was now in a good position. “We are now in a good position and if we are able to win our next three matches before Eid-ul-Adha we will be in a very comfortable position,” said Essa.

PIA coach Shamim Khan said luck did not favour them. “I am convinced now that with good coaching and quality players you also need luck to achieve success,” said the dejected Shamim.

“In the start we missed four one-to-one chances. Today we had fielded our four newly-recruited young midfielders and had sent Nasrullah upfront with Shakir Lashari. We have been facing problems in our midfield,” he said.

“KESC were lucky to score. The ball went in front of Essa after kissing the leg of our defender and Essa put it in the net clinically,” Shamim said.

PIA are struggling at seven points from seven matches.

Today’s fixtures: HBL v KPT (Korangi Baloch Football Ground, Sharafi Goth, Karachi), Army v ZTBL (Model Town Football Academy Ground, Lahore).