Lahore, 2 Dec: NBP and HBL put up brilliant striking power and outclassed Punjab’s local clubs with identical scoreline of 4-1. NBP gave no room to Young Blood at CDGK Stadium, Sheldon Road, Saddar Town with Muhammad Ashfaq completing hat-trick while HBL slammed twice in both halves to thrash PMC Athletico Faisalabad 4-1 at Peoples Sports Complex, Mauripur Road, Lyari Town.
NBP-Blood tie was end-to-end stuff and after Asim Mansoor saw his volley deflected for a Blood corner. NBP hit back and Muhammad Ahfaq hit an 9th minute angled drive which keeper smothered well but ball rolled over the line. Back came the NBP again and Adam Hameed hammered a shot just over the bar following good work by Ata Ullah and Muhammad Ashraf.
Ashfaq hit his second when hee did some excellent work to the left on the goal in the 18th minute, took a return pass from Abdul Aziz and headed it into the bottom left of the net. Ashfaq completed hat-trick in the 45th minute. Farooq Shah executed some fantastic work to the left of the goal before feeding to Ashfaq, received the ball back, beat the Blood keeper with some skillful footwork and drilled it in the net. Ashfaq’s three-goal blitz was 15th hat-trick of the event.
Left full Mehmood Khan enhanced the lead to 4-0 with a fine move and finish. Ashraf whipped over a low cross from the right and, quick as a flash, former international from Chaman swivelled to fire the ball low past keeper.All in all, it was a truly entertaining, eventful and positive game, with all areas of the team greatly improving.The visitors from Sahiwal earned consolation goal in the 62nd minute when Asim’s cross was only cleared as far as midfielder Khawar Khalid, who beat Amir Gul with a low 25-yard drive.. It was double as NBP also won the first leg 2-1 at Sahiwal on 22 October 2010. NBP gathered 24 points from 22 matches while Young Blood have 18 in 27 matches.
In HBL-PMC clash, with Asian Games man Aurangzeb Baloch in outstanding form with a brace, the bankers started with brightly, leading possession and creating good chances. Zakir Lashari went close early on after some positive work by Muhammad Ibrahim. He went on to have a great first half, as he chased the ball down the right hand side. Khayal Muhammad had two chances in quick succession around the middle of the first half, but one went of the bar and one unluckily kissed the side netting.
1982 Champions HBL were firmly in control of the game and got the lead on minute 25. Zakir Lashari found himself in a central position to bounce the ball in the back of the net. Aurangzeb made it 2-0 three minute later but Tanveer Ahmed pulled one back for PMC in the 38th minute to make it 1-2. Aurangzeb enhanced the lead to 3-1 in the 52nd minute and it was left to wing full back Sameer Ahmed to rounded off 4-1 tally in the 62nd minute. It was revenguful win as PMC were winners by solitary strike in Leg I on 8 Oct 2010 at Faisalabad.
PMC, HBL – 15th and 16th before the kick off of Thursday match- struggled at the bottom. PMC earned 15 points from 27 matches as compared to HBL’s 15 in 22 outings.
Friday (3 Dec) Fixture
Premier League: Afghan FC v WAPDA (Govt High School, Chaman 2.30 PM), Baloch FC v KRL (Nushki Football Stadium 2.30 PM)
PFF League: Railway Vs ZTBL (11.30 AM, Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad), PTV Vs Ashraf Sugar (2 PM, Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad)