AFC President’s Cup: KRL seal historic 2-0 win over Hilal al-Quds

Team becomes first Pakistan club to qualify for final.

KARACHI: Pakistan Premier Football League defending champions KRL became the first Pakistan club to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup final, as they defeated Palestine’s Hilal al-Quds FC 2-0 at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malacca yesterday.

Both teams played a goalless first half, but it was Kaleemullah who scored the opening goal of the match in the 77th minute.

Midfielder Muhammad Adil scored in injury time to seal the historic victory for KRL.



“We are very excited, our head coach Tariq Lutfi and the players are very happy to become the first Pakistan club to play the President’s Cup final,” KRL’s assistant coach Sajjad Mehmood, who is also currently on duty as the coach of the national U16 team at the AFC Championship qualifiers, told The Express Tribune.

“I spoke to them right after the match and the team is confident. They are in good form, so I feel they will also win the final. I expect them to lift the trophy tomorrow.”

With the win, KRL remain undefeated in the competition. They began the second round of the President’s Cup with a victory against former champions Kyrgyzstan’s FC Dordoi 1-0 on Monday.

KRL topped Group B to qualify for the final and will now face Group A winners Balkan FC of Turkmenistan tomorrow. KRL striker Kaleemullah will have his eyes set on the top-scorer prize when they take to the field in the final. He currently has seven goals to his name, only two behind top scorer Mirlan Murzaev of FC Dordoi.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2013.

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