KARACHI: Striker Kaleemullah scored his fourth hat-trick of the season to help defending champions Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) take three points lead at the top spot as they whipped Nushki’s Baoloch FC 4-0 in the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League at the Railways Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.
Kaleem, who before this match had made hat-tricks against Muslim FC, Habib Bank and Afghan FC, landed his fourth and third consecutive treble to enable KRL to outgun underdogs Baloch FC with an enviable ease.
Kaleem, who led Pakistan in the Under-22 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Saudi Arabia in June-July, struck in 22nd, 45rd and 57th minutes to take his personal tally to 13.
He was joined on the scoresheet by Saadullah with a strike in the 42nd minute.
The victory inflated KRL points tally to 34 from 14 meetings, three points ahead of the second-placed Army and PAF who have 31 points each.
As the KRL midfielder Mehmood Khan was the architect of all the goal-scoring moves he was rewarded with the best player award.
“I think our boys have gained real form,” KRL manager Ayaz Butt told ‘The News’. “Mehmood Khan is playing a key role and Kaleem, who had missed a few matches in the beginning due to injury, has also started clicking.”
The loss left Baloch FC struggling at eight points from 15 meetings.
At the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, debutants Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) notched their third victory of the season when they outshone injury-hit Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) 1-0. Izharullah netted the winner from a very difficult angle in the 12th minute. The result took ZTBL to 14 points from 15 matches.
“We were unlucky today as Izhar scored such a fine goal against us from a narrow angle that our goalkeeper had no chance to save,” PIA coach Shamim Khan said.
PIA trail at 16 points from 15 appearances.
Karachi Port Trust (KPT) did a fine job by holding dangerous Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to a goalless draw at the PAF Complex in Peshawar.
The result guided KPT to 16 points from 15 matches, while hosts PAF joined Army on the second spot as both have 31 points, but Army have one match advantage.
“It was not our day as we missed a few open chances. Our strikers Irfan, Mujahid and Mansoor Khan were not on target,” PAF coach Mohammad Arshad said.
KPT coach Mohammad Asif termed the match an exciting one. “Both sides played really well and it was a fine game altogether,” said Asif.
At the UMT Ground in Lahore, the match between Navy and Wohaib Club ended in a 1-1 draw. After a goalless first half, Nouman put Wohaib Club on the front foot with a fine field effort in the 47th minute.
Navy bounced back smartly, netting an equaliser through Abdul Haq in the 64th minute.
By virtue of the single point, Wohaib Club, fighting to save their seat for the next season, moved to five points from 14 matches.
Navy advanced to 19 points from 16 matches.
Meanwhile, a top official of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said that PAF were given a walkover against PIA the other day after the latter did not turn up for the rescheduled match in Peshawar following the first day postponement due to heavy rain.
Today’s fixtures: WAPDA v Muslim FC (Railways Stadium, Lahore), PMC v Afghan FC (PMC Ground, Faisalabad), Army v KESC (Army Stadium, Rawalpindi).
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012(9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Sunday, October 21, 2012)
Match # 118
KRL beat Baloch FC 4:0 @ 15:00 PST @ Railway Football Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan
Scorer KRL: Kaleem Ullah (FW) 3 Goals @ 22, 45, 57 Mnts and Saad Ullah (FW) 1 Goal @ 42 Mnt.
Best Player: Mahmood Khan (MF) of KRL
Best Scorer: Kaleem Ullah (FW) of KRL
Match Commissioner: Rasheed Mahmood Butt Cell # 0333-4349648
Match # 119
Wohaib FC Vs Navy 1:1 Draw @ 15:00 PST @ UMT Football Ground, Lahore, Pakistan
Scorer Wohaib FC: Noman (FW) 1 Goal @ 47 Mnt.
Scorer Navy: Abdul Haq (MF) 1 Goal @ 64 Mnt.
Yellow Card Wohaib FC: Jibran Bin Salman (DF) @ 25 Mnt and Hassan Bin Salman @ 36 Mnt.
Yellow Card Navy: Bilal (MF) @ 56 Mnt.
Best Player: Waqas Ahmed (Goal Keeper) of Wohaib FC
Best Scorer: Abdul Haq (MF) of Navy
Match Commissioner: Naseem-ud-Din Cell # 0300-4694647
Match # 120
PAF Vs KPT 0:0 Draw @ 15:00 PST @ PAF Complex Ground, Peshawar, Pakistan
Yellow Card PAF: Muhammad Arif Nawaz (FW) @ 16 Mnt, Muhammad Bilal (DF) @ 28 Mnt and Amir Khan (FW) @ 78 Mnt.
Yellow Card KPT: Muhammad Waseem (MF) @ 11 Mnt, Faheem Shah (FW) @ 25 Mnt and Naveed Ahmed (MF) @ 65 Mnt.
Best Player: Mujahid (DF) of PAF
Match Commissioner: Syed Imtiaz Ali shah Cell # 0300-5845782
Match # 121
ZTBL beat PIA 1:0 @ 15:00 PST @ Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan
Scorer ZTBL: Azhar-ul-Haq (MF) 1 Goal @ 12 Mnt.
Yellow Card ZTBL: Arslan Khan (DF) @ 44 Mnt.
Yellow Card PIA: Zubair Moazam (MF) @ 38 Mnt.
Best Player: Muhammad Naveed (DF) of ZTBL
Best Scorer: Azhar-ul-Haq (MF) of ZTBL
Match Commissioner: Zaman Khan Cell # 0300-5343428
Tomorrow 9th PPFL-2012 Fixture :( Monday, October 22, 2012)
Match # 122 WAPDA Vs Muslim FC @ 15:00 PST @ Railway Football Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan
Match # 123 PMC FC Vs Afghan FC @ 15:00 PST @ PMC Football Ground,Faisalabad, Pakistan
Match # 124 Army Vs KESC @ 15:00 PST @ Army Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan