[The News]
KARACHI: Former champions Army finished third after beating Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) 1-0 in their last game of the 8th Pakistan Premier Football League at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad on Tuesday.
With the victory, Army wrapped up the season with 57 points from 30 meetings. They are behind the second placed Chaman’s Afghan FC on goal average as both the teams ended their campaigns with 57 points. Losers PIA closed their chapter at the seventh spot which they got by virtue of 49 points.
Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) have already worn the crown. They face WAPDA in their last outing on Thursday (tomorrow) after which there will be a closing ceremony to be graced by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat.
Both sides offered great resistance to each other’s attacks. At half time, the show was evenly poised without any goal. After the breather, Army, who were led by goalkeeper Jaffar Khan, put pressure on the visitors and were able to score the lone goal through striker Mohammad Ikram in the 64th minute.
KRL records 24th victory
On Monday, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) recorded their 24th victory of the season on Monday when they overpowered Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) 1-0 in the 8th Pakistan Premier Football League at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.
“It was a tight game. I have never seen such a tough match in this season. Both sides took it seriously which entertained the viewers. But we were unlucky when KRL scored the winner against us in the end,” KESC manager Hassan Baloch told The News after the match. “We missed the fourth place. But our ranking will become clear after the last two matches in the next three days,” Hassan added.
In 2010 season KESC finished fourth.
Asim Mansoor scored the lone goal of the match for the winners in the 84th minute. “KESC played really well today but in the end we were lucky to score a goal,” KRL assistant coach Sajjad Mehmood said.