LAHORE: KESC routed HBL 3-0 at Peoples Sports Complex Karachi in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) on Tuesday.
With this win, they claimed second spot in the 16-team league with 47 points in 24 matches.
League leaders WAPDA secured 58 points from as many matches. KESC outpaced Army on Tuesday with 3-0 win over HBL. KESC led 1-0 at break with goal from Asian Cupper Abdul Ghafoor who sneaked his from the right flank in the 22nd minute.
Young international Abdul Rehman made it 2-0 five minutes after re-start and skipper Muhammad Essa sealed the fate of the match in the 54th minute by hitting a penalty-kick.
In another match, KPT continued to miss chances and their strikers Shahid Salim, Muhammad Bin Younus, Zafar Majeed, Shakir Taj and Waseem failed to convert goals when goalie Amir Gul looked out of sorts in their 2-2 draw against NBP at KPT-Benazir Sports Complex, Karachi. Both the goal keepers-Amir Gul and Ehsan Ullah – looked good in 1st half but conceded twice in 2nd session.
After goalless first half, the bankers surged ahead in the 59th minute when left winger Adam Hameed’s corner from right was tucked in by Muhammad Ashfaq past Ehsan’s left hand. The lead was doubled by midfielder Faisal Iqbal who capitalised on Abdul Aziz’ pass and lobbed the ball into the cage.
NBP led 2-0 at interval and were stunned when referee Javed Bangash awarded KPT the penalty-kick in the 71st minute, coolly converted by KPT skipper Akhtar Mamil. Three minutes later, Muhammad bin Younus drew level at 2-2 when during a goal mouth melee, he drifted the ball away from Amir and low into the right corner.
KPT went all out for match winner in the last 14 minutes and they came close in the 87th minute when Younus saw his powerful drive smacking the goalpost pillar. In PFF League, Police edged out PTV 1-0 at Railway Stadium, Lahore. The solitary goal was netted by winger Wasim in the 54th minute.
