KARACHI: Chaman’s Afghan FC produced their first win of the season when they defeated struggling Habib Bank Limited (HBL) 3-1, while National Bank kept their undefeated spree by holding Navy to a goalless draw in the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League here on Wednesday.
At the People’s Sports Complex, hosts Habib Bank Limited remained off-colour against Afghan FC and made blunders in frontline as well as midfield.
Himmat Khan was the star performer for the winners, hitting goals in 30th and 83rd minutes.
He was joined on the scoresheet by Samad Khan with a beautiful strike in the 61st minute.
However, it were the bankers that took the lead through Asif Mansoor in the 13th minute.
Habib Bank coach Yousuf Khan was disappointed with his team’s performance. “You know, we got lead but after that Atif missed three open net chances inside five minutes and that really affected our position,” Yousuf told ‘The News’. “Then we conceded a controversial goal. Overall, our pace was slow. We were already without our key striker Zakir Lashari due to ankle injury. Then injuries forced defenders Adil and Zubair to leave the field, which proved too costly as we could not recover after that,” Yousuf lamented.
“Our midfield should have clicked but again I have been frustrated by them,” added Yousuf, whose team finished ninth in the last season.
The win inflated Afghan FC’s points tally to four from four games while HBL are struggling at three points from six meetings.
At the KPT Stadium, National Bank pulled off another draw, their fifth one from eight matches, against a resolute Navy side. They now share 14 points on the top of the table with KRL and Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC). The bankers had got walkover against Navy the other day because the latter failed to reach the venue owing to security problems.
National Bank coach Nasir Ismail said that his team should have won the match. “Something is better than nothing as we got a single point, but overall it was our game. We should have won it,” he said. “Mohammad twice miscued his shot. When in place to steer it in the far post, he both times hit it straight to the keeper,” said Nasir. Navy, by virtue of the single point, moved to nine points from eight meetings.
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012(9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)
Match # 38
Afghan FC Chaman beat HBL 3:1 @ 1600 PST @ Peoples Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer Afghan FC: Himmat Khan (FW) 2 Goals @ 30 & 83 Mnts and Abdul Samad Khan (FW) 1 Goal @ 61 Mnt.
Scorer HBL: Asif Mansoor (FW) 1 Goal @ 13 Mnt.
Yellow Card Afghan FC: Himmat Khan (FW) @ 63 Mnt.
Yellow Card HBL: Rahim (MF) @ 38 Mnt.
Best Player: Abdul Samad Khan (FW) of Afghan FC Chaman
Best Scorer: Himmat Khan (FW) of Afghan FC Chaman
Match Commissioner: Ali Nawaz Baloch Cell # 0300-2146038
Match # 39
NBP Vs Navy 0:0 Draw @ 1600 PST @ KPT Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Yellow Card NBP: Faisal Iqbal (MF) @ 80 Mnt.
Best Player: Mohsin Ali (DF) of Navy
Match Commissioner: Abdul Shakoor Baloch Cell # 0321-9299986
Tomorrow 9th PPFL-2012 Fixture :( Thursday, September 20, 2012)
Match # 40 ZTBL Vs Army @ 1600 PST @ Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan
Match # 41 KESC Vs Baloch FC @ 1600 PST @ KPT Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Match # 42 PIA Vs Muslim FC @ 1600 PST @ Korangi Baloch Ground, Karachi, Pakistan