KARACHI: Striker Kaleemullah scored his third hat-trick of the season to help two-time defending champions Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) take a couple of points’ lead at the top spot after outclassing Chaman’s Afghan FC 4-0 in their match of the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League at the Railways Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.
Kaleem, who had flopped at the Under-22 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Saudi Arabia in June-July, has got his form back, achieving his third hat-trick by scoring goals in fifth, 35th and 59th minutes as KRL overcame the last season’s most dangerous side Afghan FC with an enviable ease.
Kaleem also had hat-tricks against Habib Bank and Chaman’s Muslim FC earlier in the season. He now has 10 goals in the season, according to unofficial statistics.
Saadullah joined Kaleem on the scoresheet with a 43rd minute strike.
KRL coach Tariq Lutfi said his new tactics have started working. “We have altered the formation as we now play with a single forward and have installed Mehmood Khan as an attacking midfielder who feeds Kaleem and the move has so far been very productive as Kaleem has been scoring consistently,” Tariq told ‘The News’.
The victory inflated KRL points tally to 31 from 13 games, after nine wins and four drawn encounters. Afghan FC are trailing at 10 points from 12 meetings.
Army survived a scare to share a point with National Bank in their match at the Army Stadium in Rawalpindi. Unlike the past few seasons, National Bank have been impressive so far this time.
In front of the Army supporters, National Bank went ahead through Mohammad Asif in the dying moments of the first half. After the breather a grueling battle was witnessed, but Army brought the equaliser through Shahid Zameer in the 83rd minute.
National Bank coach Nasir Ismail was happy despite his team’s conceding a goal in the final moments. “I think the draw against Army is not a bad effort,” Nasir said. “I am satisfied that the players played with spirit and commitment. You know, we played this match without any practice and we had not seen the pitch as we were not allowed to enter the venue the other day when Army were playing against PIA,” added Nasir.
The single point moved the second-placed National Bank to 29 from 16 matches, while Army stretched their tally to 28 from 14 meetings.
WAPDA, once the most dangerous side, scored their fifth triumph when they outclassed Nushki’s Baloch FC 3-0 at the Railways Stadium in Lahore to move to 21 points from 14 appearances. Zulfiqar Ali Shah (26th minute), Mohammad Asad Shehzad (58th minute) and Arif Mehmood (52nd minute) scored the goals.
The loss left Baloch FC reeling at eight points from 14 meetings.
Navy recorded their fourth victory when they snatched a 1-0 win against PMC Athletico at the PMC Ground in Faisalabad. Asif Bakhsh netted the lone goal of the show in the 73rd minute. It took Navy to 18 points from 15 appearances. PMC have 11 points from 14 meetings.
At the UMT Ground in Lahore, Muslim FC outclassed Lahore’s Wohaib Club 4-1 to inflate their points tally to 21 from 15 matches. Haji Mohammad scored a brace, while Hayatullah and Saeed Ahmad netted one goal apiece. Mohammad Usman landed the only goal for the hosts Wohaib Club in the 16th minute.
Wohaib Club, who have rejoined the top league after spending four years in relegation, are struggling at the rock bottom with four points from 13 meetings.
Today’s fixtures: ZTBL v KESC (Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad), PAF v PIA (PAF Complex, Peshawar).
Source: The News
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012(9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Thursday, October 18, 2012)
Match # 108
WAPDA beat Baloch FC 3:0 @ 12:30 PST @ Railway Football Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan
Scorer WAPDA: Zulfiqar Shah (FW) 1 Goal @ 26 Mnt, Muhammad Asad Shahzad (DF) 1 Goal @ 58 Mnt and Arif Mahmood (FW & Captain) 1 Goal @ 62 Mnt.
Yellow Card WAPDA: Waseem Abbas (DF) @ 83 Mnt.
Yellow Card Baloch FC: Habib Ullah (MF) @ 34 & 37 Mnts
Red Card Baloch FC: Habib Ullah (MF) Red Card due to two yellow cards
Best Player: Abdul Qadus (MF) of Baloch FC
Best Scorer: Zulfiqar Shah (FW) of
Match Commissioner: Rauf Bari Cell # 0346-4499711
Match # 109
Navy beat PMC FC 1:0 @ 15:00 PST @ PMC Football Ground, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Scorer Navy: Asif Buksh (FW) 1 Goal @ 73 Mnt.
Yellow Card Navy: Ramzan (MF) @ 6 Mnt, Asif Buksh (FW) @ 71 Mnt.
Yellow Card PMC FC: Mumtaz (FW) @ 63 Mnt.
Best Player: Mujahid (FW) of PMC FC
Best Scorer: Asif Buksh (FW) of Navy
Match Commissioner: Mian Bari Cell # 0300-7890300
Match # 110
Army Vs NBP 1:1 Draw @ 15:00 PST @ Army Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Scorer Army: Shahid Zamir (DF) 1 Goal @ 83 Mnt.
Scorer NBP: Muhammad Asif (FW) 1 Goal 45+3 Mnt.
Yellow Card Army: Masroor (DF) @ 44 Mnt
Yellow Card NBP: Sher Muhammad (MF) @ 44 Mnt, Muhammad Asif (FW) @ 49 Mnt and Adnan Nazar (MF) @ 68 Mnt.
Best Player: Muhammad Umar (Goal Keeper) of NBP
Best Scorer: Shahid Zamir (DF) of Army
Match Commissioner: Salah-ud-Din Cell # 0302-5932197
Match # 111
Muslim FC beat Wohaib FC 4:1 @ 15:00 PST @ UMT Football Ground, Lahore, Pakistan
Scorer Muslim FC: Haji Muhammad (FW) 2 Goals @ 2, 75 Mnt, Hayat Ullah (FW) 1 Goal @ 44 Mnt and Saeed (FW, Substitute) 1 Goal @ 79 Mnt.
Scorer Wohaib FC: Usman (FW) 1 Goal @ 16 Mnt.
Yellow Card Muslim FC: Abdul Hakeem (MF) @ 63 Mnt.
Yellow Card Wohaib FC: Usman (FW) @ 59 Mnt.
Best Player: Saeed (FW) of Muslim FC
Best Scorer: Haji Muhammad (FW) of Muslim FC
Match Commissioner: Naseem-ud-Din Cell # 0300-4694647
Match # 112
KRL beat Afghan FC 4:0 @ 15:00 PST @ Railway Football Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan
Scorer KRL: Kaleem Ullah (FW) 3 Goals @ 5, 35, 59, Saadullah (MF) 1 Goal @ 43rd minute
Yellow Card KRL: Muhammad Ali (FW) @ 51Mnt.
Best Player: Kaleem Ullah (FW) of KRL
Best Scorer: Kaleem Ullah (FW) of KRL
Match Commissioner: Rauf Bari Cell # 0346-4499711
Tomorrow 9th PPFL-2012 Fixture :( Friday, October 19, 2012)
Match # 113 ZTBL Vs KESC @ 15:00 PST @ Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan
Match # 114 PAF Vs PIA @ 15:00 PST @ PAF Complex Ground, Peshawar, Pakistan
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
KRL | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 8 | +20 | 31 | W W W W W | |
| 2 |  |
National Bank | 16 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 29 | D W W L W | |
| 3 | |
Pakistan Army | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 4 | +12 | 28 | D W W W W | |
| 4 | |
Karachi Electric | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 26 | 10 | +16 | 27 | L W D D D | |
| 5 | |
Pakistan Air Force | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 9 | +16 | 27 | W W W W W | |
| 6 | |
WAPDA | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 15 | +7 | 21 | W D L D D | |
| 7 | |
Muslim | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 19 | -2 | 21 | W L L W D | |
| 8 | |
Pakistan Navy | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 13 | +0 | 18 | W D D L L | |
| 9 | |
Pakistan Airlines | 13 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 9 | +0 | 16 | L D D D D | |
| 10 | |
Karachi Port Trust | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 21 | -8 | 15 | L L L D W | |
| 11 | Habib Bank | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 21 | -13 | 15 | L W L W W | ||
| 12 | PMC Athletico | 13 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 11 | L D D W L | ||
| 13 | ZTBL | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 11 | W L D L L | ||
| 14 | Afghan | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 10 | L W L W L | ||
| 15 | Baloch | 14 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 26 | -22 | 8 | L D L L L | ||
| 16 | Wohaib | 13 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 23 | -18 | 4 | L L L L D |