KARACHI: Midfielder Mohammad Waseem hit a brace to guide Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to a 3-2 victory over nine-men Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the Pakistan Premier Football League here at the Korangi Baloch Football Ground in Sharafi Goth on Monday.
Waseem, coming back after serving a one-match suspension, played a key role in KPT’s victory by hitting two goals, including the last minute winner. It was a tough game that contained suspense till the end. After a tough, barren first half in which both sides played rough football, KPT hit two goals inside six minutes through Naveed Ahmed (63rd minute) and Mohammad Waseem Cheena (68th minute) to make the things difficult for the rivals.
However, PIA, led by Nasrullah, fought back strongly to level the scores when Shakir Lashari (71st minute) and Ali Adeem Shehzad (74th minute) struck for them in quick succession. In the culminating minutes both sides went all out but it were KPT that hit the winner through Mohammad Waseem in the 90th minute to wrap up a thrilling triumph, their second from five games.
PIA’s Nasrullah was sent off in the 55th minute due to double booking after the first yellow card was shown to him in the 33rd minute. Ghulam Fareed was shown direct red card for a nasty foul afterwards.
Apart from Nasrullah and Ghulam Fareed, PIA will also miss Waseem Ullah and Mohammad Aabid in the next match against Navy for they were shown their second yellow cards after being cautioned in previous match. Former FIFA referee Jehangir Khan, who supervised the match after Younis Lal had to leave the field in the middle of the first half due to fitness problem, took tough decisions against PIA.
KPT coach Mohammad Asif was elated by the victory. “Our team extended top class performance today,” Asif told ‘The News’. “We had our key midfielder Waseem Cheena back and he played extremely well by scoring two goals,” said Asif.
He said that his boys were in great touch and would keep the momentum going. “I have given the players a lot of confidence and hope that they will put in their best in the coming matches.,” Asif said.
PIA coach Shamim Khan was shocked by the defeat. “We lost due to sheer bad luck. It was not our day as we not only lost the game but also lost four key players for our next away match against Navy due to suspension,” Shamim lamented.
The loss left PIA at six points from five appearances.
Today’s fixtures: NBP v KESC, ZTBL v WAPDA
from: The News
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
National Bank | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 9 | W W W | |
| 2 |  |
WAPDA | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 8 | D D W W | |
| 3 | |
Pakistan Air Force | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 8 | D D W L W | |
| 4 | |
Pakistan Army | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 | W D W | |
| 5 | Karachi Electric | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 7 | D W W | ||
| 6 | |
Karachi Port Trust | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 7 | W L L W D | |
| 7 | |
Pakistan Airlines | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 6 | L W W L L | |
| 8 | |
Pakistan Navy | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 | L W L D | |
| 9 | |
Habib Bank | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 1 | D L L L | |
| 10 | |
ZTBL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 | D L L | |
| 11 | |
Afghan FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | ||
| 12 | |
Baloch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | ||
| 13 | |
KRL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | ||
| 14 | |
Muslim | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | ||
| 15 | |
Pak Afghan Cle… | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | ||
| 16 | |
Lyallpur | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 | L L L |