Lahore, 7 October: Pakistan’s foremost football event – Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) 2010 – saw the completion of four more matches at Punjab and Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa. The 22nd day of the marathon League saw Multan-born former Pakistan U23 captain Arif Mehmood landed 83rd minute winner as Pakistan WAPDA overpowered Nushki’s Baloch FC 1-0 at Garhi Shahu’s Railway Stadium, Lahore. Sahiwal’s Young Blood went all out to draw 1-1 with SSGC at Rai Ali Nawaz Stadium, near Fareed Town Police Station, Sahiwal while 0-0 draw was recorded between Army and KESC at Municipal Stadium, Saidpur Road, Satellite Town, Rawalpindi. Fast moving Karachi-born striker Zeeshan Ali, 21, fired last-ditch winner as all- airmen saw PIA beating PIA 2-1 at Qayyum Stadium, near Saddar, Bara Road, Peshawar Cantt
Pakistan WAPDA snatched their sixth win in seven visits to turf when they edged out stubborn Nushki’s Baloch FC 1-0 .The precious goal for star-studded seven times National Champion WAPDA was scored by captain and spearhead Arif Mehmood seven minutes from time after tight 0-0 at interval. It was Arif’s 12th goal of the event, easily the top hitman of ongoing show – far above his teammate Imran Niazi (4) and Jadeed Khan (Afghan FC), Zafar Majeed (KPT) and Saad Ullah (PEL) who managed three goals. WAPDA managed 19 points from seven matches while visitors from Balochistan produced nine in same number of outings.
Sahiwal’s Young Blood, who lost to SSGC in PFF League 2009 final at same venue of Fareed Town, fared better this time and hold the team from Karachi 1-1. The home team were first to settle down and crowd came to life when Amir Yaqoob, hails from Faisalabad, sliced the ball past SSGC keeper Adnan Ahmed in the 42 minute. Blood led 1-0 at interval. But Aftab Ahmed gave sigh of relief to their AFC Aid 27 Coaches Nasim Ahmed and Javed Ahmed with 78th minutes leveler. It was the match between two newly-promoted teams. Both the teams completed seven matches with Young Blood making seven points as compared to SSGC’s two.
The Army-KESC clash was restricted to midfield for most of the 90-minutes and both the team depended too largely on long range drives as the match ended 0-0. Four-times National Champion Army pocketed 11 points in seven matches while KESC had secured nine in as many matches.
PAF suffered frustration in the final minutes of the match against PIA, losing a player and conceding a goal. It was comeback victory as PAF were 1-0 up at half time through striker Amir Khan’s 45th minute goal. Nazeer Ahmed restored parity in the 66th minute. PAF suffered agony in the 88th minute when FIFA Referee Muhammad Ali Jr expelled Afzal Ur Rehman from the field. The ten-men PAF were shaky in the last two minutes and Zeeshan utilized the advantage with 90th minute winner. PIA grabbed 12 points in seven matches as compared to other airmen’s six in same number of showdowns.
Friday (8 October) Fixture:
PMC Athletico Club v HBL (PMC Football Ground, Faisalabad 3.30 PM), PEL v Chaman’s Afghan FC (Model Town Football Academy Ground, Lahore 3.30 PM), Navy v KPT (Municipal Stadium, Saidpur Road, Satellite Town, Rawalpindi 1 PM), KRL v NBP (Municipal Stadium, Saidpur Road, Satellite Town, Rawalpindi 3.30 PM)