Nine-time champions PIA crash out of President’s Cup

Lose 2-1 to SNGPL after suffering defeat in opening match


Natasha Raheel January 20, 2017
Photo: FILE

KARACHI: In a major upset, nine-time champions PIA crashed out of the 2016 NBP President’s Cup as they lost 2-1 to SNGPL in their Group C encounter at the KPT Stadium on Friday.

PIA had lost their first match of the group 2-1 to K-Electric earlier and were required to win the second match of the group in order to stay in the competition. However, SNGPL were at their best on Friday as they thwarted the airliners in their pursuit of a 10th crown.

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After playing a goalless first half, SNGPL opened the scoring in the 57th minute of the match when Sadabahar slotted the ball in the back of the net. PIA found the equaliser through Shakir Lashari in the 75th minute but Owais Riasat broke their hearts when he scored the winner in injury time.

PIA coach Zafar Iqbal said it was tougher for his team without captain Haji Muhammad, who got a red card in the previous fixture, while four other senior players were also injured.

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"The defeat was tough to take as we couldn't play our game," Iqbal told The Express Tribune. "The weather was more favourable to our opponents as the windy conditions helped their direct style of play.”

Iqbal further said that biased refereeing had cost them their match against K-Electric. "The referees were in awe of Kaleemullah and Essa Khan playing and that caused them to make many errors. That match left us disappointed and broke our spirit as well. Had the referees been fair, we would still have a chance in the tournament.”

In the second match of the day, four-time national champions KRL defeated Navy 2-0 in a one-sided match.

Murtaza Hasan scored the first goal in the 28th minute as KRL led 1-0 at the interval, while Muhammad Imran sealed the win in the 46th minute.

In Saturday's fixtures, WAPDA will play  Pakistan Steel, while Police will take on NBP.

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