PPFL: Narrow win takes KESC back to 2nd

Rasool’s brace takes his side to important win against Army.

KARACHI: KESC edged out Army 2-1 to go back to second place in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL).

KESC, after a draw against PIA and defeat at the hands of defending champions KRL last week, now have a slim chance of retaining their current position as the league heads towards its close. Army’s Ansar Abbas scored the opener in the 36th minute but KESC’s top-scorer Mohammad Rasool struck twice to seal the much-needed victory.

“It was an important victory but we still need to improve and get more results in our favour,” a KESC team official told The Express Tribune. “Army still have two more matches while we only have one left. Muslim FC will get an advantage if they receive more walkovers against teams not showing up at the venue in Chaman. It’s almost unfair that this is the best season we have played in years and we are still struggling.”

With the win, KESC now have 59 points in the league and follow KRL in second after their 29th match. Army have 57 points and are placed third after playing 28 matches.



Meanwhile, PIA replaced Navy in seventh with a 3-1 win over Wapda in Karachi yesterday.

PIA’s striker Mohammad Ali Nawaz scored the opening goal in the fifth minute of the match and Zeeshan Ali doubled the lead in the 60th minute. Shakir Lashari then added a third in the 75th minute. Wapda’s solitary goal came from Imran Niazi two minutes later. PIA have 35 points after the win, while Wapda stayed in 12th with 31 points.

On the other hand, Afghan FC are sitting eighth with 35 points after getting a walk-over against PAF, who decided to skip their matches in Chaman due to security concerns. PAF remained fifth with 53 points.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2013.