Football: Holders KRL maintain unbeaten run

Defending champions beat PAF 2-1 in football league.

KARACHI: Defending champions KRL maintained their unbeaten start to the season intact and strengthened their grip at the top with a 2-1 win over PAF 2-1 in their Pakistan Premier Football League match at home in Rawalpindi.

It was not, however, a smooth ride to maximum points for KRL after conceding a goal in the 13th minute and they trailed 1-0 at half-time.

But KRL pressed hard after resumption which duly arrived on the hour-mark courtesy Yasir Afridi’s strike. National team player Mahmood Khan then scored the winner seven minutes later to help his side to a fourth straight win.

In another match, Sajjad Ahmed netted a first-half brace to propel Navy to a 3-0 win against hosts KPT. Ahmed’s put his name on the score-sheet in the 15th minute before adding his second three minutes later. Muhammad Adnan then rounded off the easy win with a 67th-minute strike. Navy’s victory, however, was dampened by the dismissal of Mohsin Ali who was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

Meanwhile, PIA and NBP played out a lacklustre 1-1 draw at the Korangi Baloch Ground. No goals were scored in the opening 45 minutes but midfielder Faisal Iqbal gave NBP the lead at the beginning of second-half which was cancelled out by PIA’s striker Imran Khan 16 minutes later.

Elsewhere, Baloch FC were able to hold on for a goalless draw against Muslim FC Chaman at the Noushki Football Stadium.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2012.