KARACHI: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) are now only one point away from their third straight crown as they defeated Karachi Port Trust (KPT) 2-1 in their match of the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League here at the KPT Stadium on Saturday.
KRL, who with the victory moved to 65 points from 26 games, got onto the scoresheet in the third minute through a fine header from international defender Kamran Khan. However, KPT, who lost their 14th match of the season, brought an equaliser through full-back Ghulam Raza who dodged a row of defenders before smashing it past the keeper in the 29th minute.
At half time, the match was evenly poised at 1-1.
After the breather, KPT offered tough resistance but KRL got a penalty in the 77th minute and their international defender and skipper Samar Ishaq made no mistake from the spot.
This was the 20th win for KRL in 26 games. Only Chaman’s Muslim FC were able to beat them and that too with a 1-0 margin. Five matches ended in draw.
“The team was off colour and did not play in its perfect style today but we did manage a victory,” KRL coach Tariq Lutfi told ‘The News’. “A couple of our goals were disallowed by referee but finally we got three points and almost have ensured our crown,” he said.
If Army, who meet Navy here today (Sunday), play a draw or lose, it will also make KRL the champions — for the third consecutive time following their triumphs in 2010 and 2011.
KPT coach Mohammad Asif was not satisfied with his frontline’s performance. “We squandered several chances and that hurt us a lot,” Asif said.
“We scored a clear goal in the first half but it was disallowed. I am not satisfied with that decision,” said Asif, also a former international.
KPT midfielder Mohammad Waseem was adjudged the best player of the match.
The loss left KPT at 30 points from 28 appearances.
They are yet to face WAPDA and Army in their remaining two meetings next week at their own backyard.
Meanwhile, Muslim FC, eyeing the second spot, compounded Punjab Medical College (PMC) FC’s misery in the relegation zone when they crushed the visitors 4-0 at the Government High School Ground in Chaman.
Haji Mohammad hit a brace, scoring goals in the sixth and 71st minute, while Mohammad Dawood and international striker Saeed Ahmed struck in the 21st and 79th minutes, respectively.
The output enabled Muslim FC to join KESC at 56 points from 28 matches and left PMC at a critical stage with 24 points to their credit from 29 meetings. Only a miracle will save them from relegation.
Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) are their closest rivals as they also stand at 24 points, but they have played one match less than PMC FC and also have a better goal-average.
Baloch FC got a walkover when their rivals Pakistan Air Force (PAF) did not turn up for the game scheduled at the Nushki Stadium in Balochistan.
The result catapulted Baloch FC to 30 points from 28 outings.
Today’s fixtures: Afghan FC v ZTBL (Government High School Ground, Chaman), Navy v Army (Naval Sports Complex, Karsaz, Karachi), HBL v WAPDA (Peoples Sports Complex, Karachi)
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KRL | 26 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 62 | 13 | +49 | 65 | W W D L W | ||
| 2 | Karachi Electric | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 57 | 26 | +31 | 56 | L D D W W | ||
| 3 |  |
Muslim | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 43 | 22 | +21 | 56 | W W W W D | |
| 4 | Pakistan Army | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 33 | 11 | +22 | 54 | W L W D D | ||
| 5 |  |
Pakistan Air Force | 27 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 46 | 18 | +28 | 53 | W D L W W | |
| 6 | National Bank | 27 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 37 | L W W L L | ||
| 7 | Pakistan Navy | 27 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 27 | 29 | -2 | 33 | D W W W L | ||
| 8 | Pakistan Airlines | 28 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 26 | -1 | 32 | L D D W W | ||
| 9 | Afghan FC | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 29 | -5 | 32 | W L L L W | ||
| 10 | |
Habib Bank | 28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 34 | -9 | 31 | W W W D W | |
| 11 | WAPDA | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 32 | 37 | -5 | 30 | D W L L L | ||
| 12 | |
Karachi Port Trust | 28 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 33 | 43 | -10 | 30 | L L W L W | |
| 13 | |
Baloch | 27 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 36 | -15 | 27 | D D W W L | |
| 14 | |
ZTBL | 28 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 37 | -18 | 24 | D L W L L | |
| 15 | PMC Athletico | 29 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 44 | -26 | 24 | L W L L D | ||
| 16 | Wohaib | 29 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 8 | 72 | -64 | 8 | L L L L L |
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012 (9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Saturday, December 05, 2013)
Match # 218
Baloch FC Vs PAF @ 14:30 PST @ Noushki Football Stadium, Noushki, Pakistan
(Walkover given in favour of Baloch FC because PAF did not turn up)
Match Commissioner: Muhammad Shafique Cell # 0301-3737814
Match # 219
KRL beat KPT 2:1 @ 14:30 PST @ KPT Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Scorer KRL: Kamran Khan (DF) 1 Goal @ 3 Mnt and Samer Ishaq (DF) 1 Goal through Penalty kick @ 77 Mnt.
Scorer KPT: Ghulam Raza (DF) 1 Goal @ 29 Mnt.
Yellow Card KRL: Muhammad Shahid (DF) @ 55 Mnt and Mudassar Saeed (FW) @ 90 Mnt.
Yellow Card KPT: Akhtar Mamool (DF) @ 90+4 Mnt.
Best Scorer: Ghulam Raza (DF) of KPT
Best Player: Muhammad Waseem (MF) of KPT
Match Commissioner: Abdul Shakoor Baloch Cell # 0321-9299986
Match # 220
Muslim FC beat PMC FC 4:0 @ 14:30 PST @ Govt. High School Ground, Chaman, Pakistan
Scorer Muslim FC: Haji Muhammad (FW) 2 Goals @ 6, 71 Mnts, Muhammad Dawood (MF) 1 Goal @ 21 Mnt and Saeed Ahmed (FW) 1 Goal @ 79 Mnt.
Best Scorer: Haji Muhammad (FW) of Muslim FC
Best Player: Muhammad Waseem (FW) of Muslim FC
Match Commissioner: Ghulam Muhammad Samad Cell # 0333-7828087
9th Pakistan Premier Football League (9th PPFL-2012)
Tomorrow Fixture :( Sunday, January 06, 2013)
Match # 221 Afghan FC Vs ZTBL @ 14:30 PST @ Govt. High School Ground, Chaman, Pakistan
Match # 222 Navy Vs Army @ 14:30 PST @ PNS Karsaz Football Ground, Karachi, Pakistan
Match # 223 HBL Vs WAPDA @ 14:30 PST @ Peoples Football Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan