Multan, 9 October 2018: The 12th Pakistan Premier Football League 2018 – Multan leg at the Qilla Kohna Qasim Bagh Stadium saw two results last night on 8 October.
The 8:30 PM kick off between star-studded strugglers Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Muslim FC Chaman finished goalless. Both sides tried to break the deadlock but impotent finishing at either end throughout the 90 minutes meant both sides finished 0-0.
SSGC remain scoreless after 4 games played and is a real worrying side for the newly promoted side captained by Pakistan NT skipper Saddam Hussain and coached by former KRL and PIA star coach Tariq Lutfi. Muslim FC, missing veteran Hayatullah, also still remain without a win in the PPFL 2018 so far.
The 10:45 PM kick off saw Pakistan Air Force (PAF) take on Afghan FC Chaman in which PAF skipper Muhammad Mujahid gave the Airmen an early lead inside 5 minutes when he headed home a cross from the left past the Afghan FC goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
The goal certainly caught Afghan FC by surprise as they tried to get the equaliser for most of the game, regularly coming close but not finishing their chances while PAF looked dangerous at the break especially with star winger Mansoor Khan regularly troubling the Chaman side’s defence.
The second half saw regular back and forth between the sides, but as frustrations mounted things went a little out of control. An off the ball incident between Mansoor Khan and an Afghan FC defender made the referee show both players the red card in 75th minute, forcing both teams to play with 10 men for the remainder of the game.
Deep in stoppage time, PAF substitute Amir Khan was at the right place to make it 2-0 after Mujahid forced a save from Afghan FC keeper and Amir scored from the rebound. The win puts PAF on top of the PPFL table, boosting their credentials as title challengers.
Today’s match sees Baloch FC Nushki face Pakistan Navy, given the KRL vs PIA match will be postponed yet again due to PIA’s inability to join the PPFL campaign.
The News, 10 October 2018 adds
KARACHI: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) toppled WAPDA from the top spot when they beat Chaman’s Afghan FC 2-0 in their outing of the 12th Pakistan Premier Football League at the Qasim Bagh Stadium in Multan on Monday night.
International striker Mohammad Mujahid provided lead to PAF through a fine effort in the fifth minute.Afghan FC played aggressive game and troubled PAF till the latter doubled their lead in the stoppage time through substitute Amir Khan.
Both sides lost one player each in the second half through red cards. “It’s a welcome victory,” PAF coach Mohammad Arshad told ‘The News’ on Tuesday.“After we took the lead, Afghan FC gave us some tough time but we kept our superiority through good display and got a fine result,” said Arshad, a former international.
The match between star-studded Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Chaman’s Muslim FC ended in a goalless draw with both sides claiming one point. “Although we did not win, we had the upper hand,” SSGC coach Tariq Lutfi told ‘The News’.
He said he used his bench to get the desired result. “I rested my cream. I played only Saddam Hussain but he was also off colour but I kept him as he is the captain. Our international players remained three months with Pakistan team, so their level of energy is not up to the mark. I want them to regain their rhythm,” Lutfi said.
He was quick to add that this was just the start of the season and that his side would soon catch rhythm and would play better.