August 01, 2008	Friday	Rajab 28, 1429

KARACHI, July 31: Left-winger Abdul Ghafoor enabled Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) to thrash Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) by a huge 5-1 margin in their Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) clash at the People’s Sports Complex on Thursday evening.

Winning three matches and drawing one in their earlier meetings, the visiting national champions, who had never before lost to their sister concern, sent out jolts of shock among the handful of spectators at the stadium who had come prepared to watch the home side lose Thursday’s encounter.

Although KESC missed their first chance to score in the match’s sixth minute when their midfielder Sohail Nawaz’s attempt went directly into Wapda’s keeper Luqman Rasheed’s hands, they recovered soon enough when Abdul Ghafoor’s pass was ably converted by striker Aurangzeb in the 13th minute.

This was followed by Wapda wasting two opportunities. First their midfielder Zakir Hussain’s header was blocked in the 18th minute by KESC’s young keeper Muhammad Omar, who is playing his first tournament. And moments later their skipper and striker Arif Mahmood’s shot reflected off the cross bar.

Meanwhile KESC scored their second in the 36th minute when Abdul Ghafoor’s second try at the goal rebounded off goalie Luqman but was quickly pushed in by their winger Lal Mohammad Sr.

The score was 2-0 at interval.

Play resumed with the KESC generating more power as Abdul Ghafoor’s third attempt in the 59th minute seemed like an action replay of his second when the ball rebounded off Wapda’s goalkeeper once again but was swiftly tucked in by Sohail Nawaz coming in from the left side.

Being three down must have put immense pressure on goalie Luqman, who after watching Abdul Ghafoor heading in his direction at full speed once again simply moved away from the goal, leaving it vacant for the left-winger and in the process and gifting KESC their fourth goal in the 67th minute. This was followed by Abdul Ghafoor’s second solo attempt that reached its target in the 69th minute.

Wapda’s consolation goal came in the 71st minute of the match when their captain was finally able to score.

The match also saw KESC’s main defender Zahid earn his second yellow card of the tournament. He will now have to sit out their next match with Pak Elektron Ltd (PEL) on Sunday. The match was also watched by Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) Secretary General Col Ahmed Yar Lodhi.

Friday’s fixture: National Bank of Pakistan v Pak Elektron Limited at the Korangi Baloch Stadium, Karachi, at 5.30pm.

Habib Bank Limited v Punjab Medical College at the Peoples Sports Complex, Karachi at 5.30pm.