Muhammad Qasim scored the winner in the 50th minute in Jinnah Stadium (Pakistan Sports Board) to take his side to 73 points after 28 matches. PIA, meanwhile, stayed fourth with 48 points from 26 matches.
“Playing against PIA is an extremely emotional experience for me,” KRL coach Tariq Lutfi, who was PIA’s head coach last year, told The Express Tribune.
“I know their game well and I know all their players personally. But what I’ve achieved with KRL this year, I couldn’t have imagined it with PIA.”
After having guaranteed the winner’s trophy, Lutfi also has the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Presidents Cup to look forward to, where KRL will be taking on various Asian clubs for regional supremacy.
PIA gave tough time to KRL before going down fighting. Surprisingly it was PIA boys who dictate their terms in the first half and a determined KRL defence and goalkeeper foiled PIA’s all attempts. After the start of the second half KRL changed their tactics and looked different side.
M Qasim struck a fierce shot which went straight in to the goal in the 50th minute of the game. After conceding a goal, PIA boys moral was shattered but to their great credit they manage to restrict KRL from further making inroads in to their goal, KRL had to settle for a hard fought 1-0 victory.
After this victory, KRL have now played 27 matches, winning 22, drawing four with just one defeat. They scored 52 goals, conceded only nine and their goal difference is 43 with 70 points and are comfortably placed at the top while Afghan FC, Chaman with 57 points at second place but they had played 30 matches.
Afghan FC won 16, draws nine, lost five, scored 52 goals and conceded 24 goals, and their goal difference is 28.
Tomorrow PPFL Fixture :( Sunday, December 18, 2011)
Match # 229 Navy vs NBP @ 1145 PST @ Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan
Match # 230 Army vs KESC @ 1400 PST @ Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan