Lahore, 14 November: Pakistan WAPDA and Pakistan Army were involved in a tense match at Railway Stadium, Lahore that ended 1-1 in the Pakistan Premier Football. It was second leg between the two top teams on top of the table with League Toppers WAPDA captured 54 points as compared to second placed soldier’s 41 in 22 matches.
In other matches on Sunday, Young Blood upset all calculations with 1-0 win over titlist KRL at Rai Ali Nawaz Stadium, Fareed Town, Sahiwal, taking revenge of 0-2 first leg defeat at Rawalpindi on 27October. The all important goal of the hard-tackling match was scored by spearhead Asim Mansoor in the 51st minute. It was seventh goal for Asim in the event- easily the best hitmen of Young Blood in the league.
NBP and HBL once again provided dull, lackluster display in all-bank affairs with 0-0 draw in the second leg at CDGK Stadium, Karachi. The first leg between the two was also scoreless two weeks ago.
Abdul Rehman, one of the scorers in 9-2 win over Guam in AFC Challenge Cup 2008, became the tenth hat-trick maker of the event when KESC bulldozed lowly-rated SSGC 6-1 at Peoples Sports Complex, Karachi.
It was third hat-trick from KESC man in the event after skipper Muhammad Essa against same oposition at CDGK Stadium Karachi on 1 November 2010 while Muhammad Rasool performed three-goal blitz against Afghan FC at Peoples Sports Complex, Karachi on 8 Nov 2010. Arif Mehmood twice, Khuda Bakhsh ( WAPDA), Zafar Majeed (KPT), Jadeed Khan (Afghan FC) Nomi Martin Gill ( Navy), Muhammad Qasim (KRL).
Lyari-born Rehman slammed the hat-trick with the sweetly timed goals in the 18th, 25th and 74th minute while SFL 2010 best player Muhammad Riaz added the sixth in the 67th minute. Other two scorers for the winners were Orangzaib Shahmir and former skipper Akber Ali in the 63rd and 67th minute respectively. SSGC had a disastrous event, suffering their 15th defeat and clearly in brink of elimination alongwith HBL. Their lone goal getter was Imran (81st min).
Pakistan Army fielded four Imrans in the match against WAPDA. Two of them fired eight goals each in the event while other was their third choice goal keeper Muhammad Imran – under study to Jaffar Khan in Asian Cup QR 2006. Other Imran was on bench.
Army were the better side in the first half with Saeed, Tanveer, M. Imran and Shabbir Hussain giving keeper Abdul Aziz tense moments. It was 0-0 at interval and WAPDA – missing unfit Arif Mehmood and suspended Khuda Bakhsh, Mahmood Ali – took the lead in the 60th minute when Zeeshan Javed crossed the ball from left wing and Muhammad Afzal’s volley from the edge of penalty-area went into right corner. But WAPDA reduced the deficit in the 77th minute when midfielder Abdul Rehman sent the ball crashing from the edge of the area and past Aziz’s right hand.
Monday, 15 November 2010 Fixture:
PEL v PAF (Model Town Football Academy Ground, Lahore 2.30 PM)
PMC Athletico v Navy (PMC Football Ground, Faisalabad 2.30 PM)
Baloch FC, Nushki v KPT (Nushki Football Stadium, Nushki 23 PM)
Afghan FC Vs PIA (Govt High School, Chaman 3 PM)