PPFL: KRL consolidate top spot with 3-0 win

Leaders beat KESC to extend gap at league summit.

KARACHI: KRL retained the top spot in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) as they defeated KESC 3-0 in Karachi yesterday.

The defending champions, who were enjoying an unbeaten run before losing to Muslim FC last week, regained their winning form in their first match in Karachi.

After a goalless first half, the second period started with KRL’s Mohammad Abid Khan scoring the opening goal in the 55th minute. The league’s top-scorer Kaleemullah (with 26 goals in the season) doubled the lead for the visitors in the 82nd minute and Khan’s second goal came in just four minutes later to seal the win.

KRL now have 62 points after 25 matches, while KESC remained in second place with 56 points after playing their 28th match of the season.

KESC’s chances of maintaining second spot in the league seem threatened by setbacks that include two drawn matches, home and away, against PIA last week.



“Our two draws with PIA inflicted considerable damage to our chances of comfortably finishing second,” a KESC official told The Express Tribune. “It cost us four precious points there.

“Our draw against KRL in Islamabad had given us hope of overcoming them in this match. But unfortunately things did not turn out as we planned.”

Meanwhile, Muslim FC replaced Army in fourth place with 53 points as they got a walk over against Wohaib FC who failed to show up at the venue in Chaman yesterday.

According to the Wohaib FC officials, the club decided to skip the match due to their bottom-of-the-league ranking that automatically makes them ineligible to play in the next season. So Wohaib FC – who have earned only eight points after 28 matches this season – have decided not to play further matches.

Muslim FC coach Dawood Khan was optimistic about their chances of finishing second.

“We now have a chance to get the silver medal in the league,” said Dawood. “We have three more matches in Chaman and if our opponents do not turn up, then we are in a strong position to grab the second place. We can replace KESC, so I’m not worried about the PPFL ranking anymore.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2013.