A 0-0 will do us, says Lutfi

KRL need a stalemate today to progress.

KARACHI:

Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) need a stalemate against the Chinese Taipei club Taiwan Power Company (TPC) today in order to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup.

KRL drew their first match against Mongolia’s Erchim FC 0-0 but, following Erchim’s 1-0 loss against TPC, the Pakistani outfit can finish second with a 0-0 scoreline.

“It’s a tricky situation because if we lose Erchim FC will get through,” KRL coach Tariq Lutfi told The Express Tribune. “My team is feeling the pressure and now I’m hoping that it holds its nerves and at least get, a stalemate. Right now we just need to be mentally strong and the players shouldn’t be intimidated by TPC.”

A win for TPC by two goals or more will seal KRL’s exit.

The AFC President’s Cup is a tournament contested by 16 clubs from the third-tier Asian countries. Wapda represented Pakistan in the Nepal edition Last year where they crashed out in the group stage, losing 3-0 to TPC.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2012.