Pakistan Premier Football League: PAF replace Muslim FC in second position

Team threatens competitors with best goal-average in league this season.

KARACHI: PAF replaced Muslim FC in second position in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) as they defeated Navy 1-0 at the Faisal Town Ground on Tuesday.

PAF, who finished fourth in the league last season, started their campaign with an aim to secure a place among the top three. The team also won their last fixture against Army two weeks ago.

In their opening match of the final PPFL leg, they played a goalless first-half with Navy. However, striker Mansoor Khan scored the winner for PAF in the 75th minute of the match. With their 10th of the season, PAF now have 36 points. Muslim FC also have 36 points, but PAF have the best goal-average among the 16 sides in the competition. They scored 30 goals in 18 matches and conceded only 13.

Navy maintain seventh position with 27 points. They lost their 11th match from the 24 they have played so far.

Debutants PACA contain two-time champions Army

In the second match of the day, two-time champions Army drew against debutant Pak-Afghan Clearing Agency (Paca) 1-1 at the Battle X Stadium in Lahore.

Paca dominated the match in the first-half as Abdul Hadi scored the opening goal in the 27th minute of the match.

Army failed to capitalise on the scoring opportunities in the second-half, however, Najeebullah’s late equaliser in the fourth minute of injury-time saved the day for his team. Army drew their eighth match of the season and continue in eighth position with 26 points.

According to Army’s seasoned goal-keeper Jaffar Khan, the new talent in his team will take more time to adjust.

“We are trying new players this time, so it will not be an easy ride,” Jaffar told The Express Tribune. “These new players are taking a little more time to get used to the game, but they will hopefully perform better towards the end of this season.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2013.

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