KARACHI: Karachi Port Trust (KPT) struck a late goal on a controversial penalty to hold formidable Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to a 2-2 draw, while Navy scored an easy 2-0 triumph over Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League here on Sunday.
At the KPT Stadium, referee Abdul Latif had to face tough time from the management of both KPT and PAF because he had no control over the game and made a few controversial decisions.
In the dying moments when KPT were 1-2 down, the referee awarded them a controversial penalty on which they brought an equaliser through Akhtar Mamol.
The decision infuriated PAF coach Mohammad Arshad who immediately contacted officials of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to register protest. He said he intended to send a strong letter of protest to the authorities against the referee’s decision which according to Arshad sabotaged the cause of his team that had been doing well.
“The referee has destroyed our mission and hurt us a lot with a poor decision,” Arshad told this correspondent. “Strong neutral referees with sound credentials should be posted in the league as a single poor decision could damage the cause of strong teams,” Arshad said.
“No one can prove me wrong as everything has been captured in the video and we will also send it to the PFF to support our claim,” said Arshad, a former international.
The game proved to be the toughest in the league so far as the referee had to show a record seven yellow and two red cards.
PAF took a fine start when frail-looking Islamabad-based midfielder Mohammad Sher converted a penalty in the second minute. The penalty was given for a hand ball on a pile-driver from PAF striker Irfan Ali. Irfan, who played extremely well, doubled PAF lead in the 17th minute. On the stroke of interval, KPT got a penalty and their seasoned defender Akhtar Mamol did not make any mistake in taking the spot-kick to help his side reduce the deficit.
After the breather tough fight was witnessed and a few players from both sides got seriously injured, which led to revelation that there were no adequate arrangements for taking the players off the ground on the stretcher. There was a need of quick action to take the players off the ground but due to lack of staff, the process always got delayed that created a mess.
KPT received a heavy blow when their midfielder Mohammad Waseem Cheema was sent off in the 72nd minute. But in spite of it the hosts extended their best and brought an equaliser on disputed penalty two minutes from time through Akhtar Mamol who completed his brace.
In the injury time, the referee again came into action when he sent off PAF midfielder Aamir Khan.
“The team played well today,” KPT coach Mohammad Asif said. “It was really a tough game and we were lucky to bring an equaliser in the dying moments,” said Asif.
The single point moved PAF to 50 points from 26 games, while KPT inflated their tally to 21 from 22 meetings.
At the Naval Sports Complex in Karsaz, Sajjad Ahmad (15th minute) and Mohammad Ramzan (66th minute) scored one goal apiece in each half to shepherd Navy to an easy victory over debutants ZTBL to take their tally to 26 from 24 matches.
The loss left ZTBL at 20 points from 21 meetings.
Today’s fixture: WAPDA v KRL (Railways Stadium, Lahore).
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012 (9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Sunday, December 16, 2012)
Match # 183
KPT Vs PAF 2:2 @ 14:30 PST @ KPT Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer KPT: Akhter Mamol (DF) 2 (both) Goals through Penalty Kicks @ 45, 88 Mnt
Scorer PAF: Muhammad Sher (MF) 1 Goals through Penalty Kick @ 2 Mnt and Irfan Ali (FW) 1 Goal @ 17 Mnt.
Yellow Card KPT: Muhammad Waseem (MF) @ 35 Mnt, Muhammad (FW) @ 48 Mnt, Muhammad Jaleel @ 89 Mnt and Sajid Hussain (GK) @ 90+4 Mnt.
Yellow Card: Muhammad Junaid (DF) @ 43 Mnt, Muhammad Asif (DF) @ 57 Mnt and Abdul Aziz (GK) @ 87 Mnt.
Red Card KPT: Muhammad Waseem (MF) @ 72 Mnt.
Red Card PAF: Amir Khan (FW) @ 90+4 Mnt.
Best Scorer: Akhter Mamool (DF) of KPT
Best Player: Muhammad Sher (MF) of PAF
Match Commissioner: Abdul Shakoor Baloch Cell # 0321-9299986
Match # 184
Navy beat ZTBL 2:0 @ 14:30 PST @ PNS Karsaz Ground, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer Navy: Sajjad (FW) 1 Goal @ 15 Mnt and Ramzan (DF) @ 66 Mnt.
Yellow Card Navy: Sajjad (FW) @ 86 Mnt.
Best Scorer: Sajjad (FW) of Navy
Best Player: Ramzan (DF) of Navy
Match Commissioner: Ali Nawaz Baloch Cell # 0300-2146038
9th Pakistan Premier Football League (9th PPFL-2012)
Tomorrow Fixture :( Monday, December 17, 2012)
Match # 153 WAPDA Vs KRL @ 14:00 PST @ Railway Football Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan