Lahore, 21 Dec: Pakistan Premier Football League 2010 saw the completion of two matches at Karachi on Tuesday. Nine-men NBP put up courageous display to hold Navy 1-1 at Peoples Sports Complex, Mauripur Road, Lyari Town. Meanwhile PIA won the match against Afghan on default at KPT – Benazir Sports Complex, West Wharf Road, Kharadar, Karachi.
Chaman outfit had to reach the venue two hours before kick off 2.30 PM Time but they failed to do so and PPFL Technical Officials had no alternative but to issue walk over decision. Teams not reaching the venue at given Kick-Off time will be required to Forfeit that match with 0-3 scoreline. PIA collected 50 points in 27 matches while Afghans secured 39 in 28 outings. The match was postponed on 15 November when a strike was observed in Chaman in response to a call by Apac in protest against the murder of ANP leader Sardar Haji Jilani Khan Achakzai.
NBP-Navy tie was the match between two teams who lost the chances of getting top three spot. Both completed 28 matches with Navy grabbing 42 points as compared to NBP’s 30. WAPDA had already clinched the event grabbing 67 points in 27 matches so far. Army are in second berth with 52 points, followed by KESC, KRL in 51 points. PIA and KPT have collected 47 points and are in 5th and 6th spot.
Navy were the first to settle down but miscued chances in the first nine minutes through Naveed and Abdul Haq. NBP came back and got the golden opportunity of taking lead. Referee Jehangir Khan penalized defender Muhammad Ramzan for 18th minute hand ball and international midfielder Abdul Aziz did the needful from resultant penalty kick by whipping the ball past skipper and goal keeper Ishaq Ahmed’s left hand.
NBP led 1-0 at interval as their back four Muhammad Ashraf, Yasir Sabir, Misbah ul Hassan and Ismail were active and followed the game strategy given by their coach Nasir Ismail.
Navy well all out in quest of leveler and substitute Muhammad Basharat, within three minutes of arrival into the arena, steered the ball into left corner, leaving keeper Nadeem Sattar no way. NBP had frustration in the closing stages as their midfielder Wasim Qadir, son of former Pakistani askipper Qadir Bakhsh Putla and right full Muhammad Ashraf were given marching orders in the 62nd and 76th minute respectively. But NBP defended stubbornly in last 14 minute with ten – men as the game ended 1-1.
(21 Dec) Fixture:
NBP 1 (Abdul Aziz, 18)
Navy 1 (Muhammad Basharat, 73)
(Peoples Sports Complex, Mauripur Road, Lyari Town)
PIA w/o Afghan FC Chaman (3-0 awarded to PIA)
(KPT – Benazir Sports Complex, West Wharf Road, Kharadar, Karachi)
22 Dec Fixture: SSGC v PEL (KPT – Benazir Sports Complex, West Wharf Road, Kharadar, Karachi 12.30 PM), HBL v PAF (Peoples Sports Complex, Mauripur Road, Lyari Town 2.30 PM), KPT v KRL (KPT – Benazir Sports Complex, West Wharf Road, Kharadar, Karachi 2.30 PM).