PAF draw 1-1 with WAPDA

Teams earn a point each after opening PPFL campaign.

KARACHI: PAF and Wapda opened their campaigns in the 11th edition of the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) with a 1-1 draw at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad on Tuesday.

After playing a goalless first half, Wapda’s Arif Mehmood scored the first goal of the match in the 77th minute on a penalty kick.

PAF then struck an equaliser through Khalid Khan’s goal in the 87th minute as both teams ended play with a point each.

Both Wapda and PAF are considered to be among the top five of the 12 teams featuring in the league.

Wasn’t the best start to the season: PAF coach

According to PAF coach Arshad Khan, if his team had availed opportunities, they could have won with at least a three-goal margin.

“I expected a better result,” Arshad told The Express Tribune. “We missed a lot of opportunities to score. But it’s just the beginning of the season and I’m hopeful that my side will catch up.

“Mansoor Khan and Muhammad Sohail are currently representing the national side at the Asian Games, and of course Wapda’s players have also travelled to Incheon, so I believe both teams would’ve played differently with a full squad.

“Two of my new players also sustained injuries during the practice here in Islamabad.”

Arshad believes that his squad can defeat Army with a margin of three goals in the next match on September 27, while adding that he found Wapda to be a weaker side as compared to last season.

Meanwhile,Wapda’s Mehmood said that the club had inducted new players in the team and were currently in an experimental phase.

“PAF are a good side, but I don’t see them being among the top two. It was a good match though,” said Mehmood.

In another fixture, Afghan FC defeated Muslim FC 1-0 as Abdul Ali scored the winner in the 16th minute of the match.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2014.

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