KARACHI: Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) finished their season as the runners-up when they defeated former champions WAPDA 1-0 in their last league game of the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League held here at the KPT Stadium on Sunday, 13 January 2013.
Although both KESC and Chaman’s Muslim FC ended their voyage of 30 matches on 62 points, the former got the second place on the basis of a better goal average.
This is the first time KESC have ended as the runners-up. Last year, they had ended fifth.
“I think, it’s a great achievement for us,” KESC skipper Mohammad Essa told ‘The News’ after the match.
“In the last two editions of the National Challenge Cup we ended as the runners-up and this time in the Premier League we finished second, which shows that we have improved a lot,” said Essa, a former Pakistan captain, who did not take the field in the match due to a knee injury.
KESC coach Akber Ali said the team’s bench would be made stronger. “I think we need a stronger bench and we will try to achieve that before the next season,” said Akber.
KESC Sports Manager Zaib Khan endorsed his coach’s views. “We need a stronger bench and we are going to make some fresh recruitment for that,” Zaib said.
KESC could have struck the fastest goal, but Abdul Salam failed to capitalise on a splendid cross from Mohammad Rasool in the first minute. But he compensated for his early mistake when he put the hosts KESC on the front foot in the fourth minute. It was not a fast game as both sides played in a relaxed manner in front of Pakistan’s Serbian coach Zavisa Milosavljevic who reached here on Sunday morning from Lahore for witnessing the last few matches of the league which concludes here at the KPT Stadium on Tuesday (tomorrow).
At half time, KESC were leading 1-0. KESC could have doubled their lead midway through the second half but international striker Mohammad Rasool’s drive from close range went off the target.
A few minutes latter, Aurangzeb Senior failed to contribute for KESC when his header went astray.
WAPDA could have struck near the end but their frontline failed to capitalise on the opportunity.
WAPDA concluded their miserable journey with 32 points. Their final position will be determined after the game between Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Army at the KPT Stadium on Monday (today).
Meanwhile, here at the Naval Sports Complex in Karsaz, Navy held champions KRL 1-1 to end with 37 points. Their actual position will become clear after the match between PIA and KRL on Tuesday. Last season, the sailors finished at the tenth spot. This time they can finish at the seventh or eighth position.
KRL went ahead through Saadullah in the 24th minute. In the 35th minute Navy were reduced to ten men when Abdul Jabbar was sent off for foul in the area.
KRL with the single point enhanced their tally to 70 from 29 meetings. Army face KPT at the KPT Stadium on Monday (today), while Afghan FC are scheduled to meet National Bank at the Aga Khan Gymkhana Ground. But it is confirmed that Afghan FC have already forfeited this match.
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012 (9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Sunday, December 13, 2013)
Match # 236
Navy Vs KRL 1:1 Draw @ 14:30 PST @ PNS Karsaz Ground, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer Navy: Adnan (FW) 1 Goal @ 59 Mnt.
Scorer KRL: Saad Ullah (FW) 1 Goal @ 24 Mnt.
Yellow Card Navy: Jabbar (DF) 2 Yellow Cards @ 28 and 35 Mnt.
Yellow Card KRL: Abid Khan (MF) @ 71 Mnt.
Red Card Navy: Yellow Cards to Jabbar (DF)
Best Scorer: Adnan (FW) of Navy
Best Player: Shahzad (GK) of Navy
Match Commissioner: Ali Nawaz Baloch Cell # 0300-2146038
Match # 238
KESC beat WAPDA 1:0 @ 14:30 PST @ KPT Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer KESC: Abdul Salam (FW) 1 Goal @ 4 Mnt.
Yellow Card KESC: Muhammad Riaz (MF) @ 5 Mnt.
Yellow Card WAPDA: Alamgir (DF) @ 73 Mnt.
Best Scorer: Abdul Salam (FW) of KESC
Best Player: Aurangzaib Baba (DF) of KESC
Match Commissioner: Abdul Shakoor Baloch Cell # 0321-9299986
9th Pakistan Premier Football League (9th PPFL-2012)
Tomorrow Fixture ( Monday, January 14, 2013)
Match # 237 NBP Vs Afghan FC @ 14:30 PST @ Korangi Baloch Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Match # 239 KPT Vs Army @ 14:30 PST @ KPT Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan