KARACHI, Oct 9 Nine-time national champions Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) overpowered Habib Bank Limited (HBL) 5-0 at the Shadab Football Stadium, here on Friday.
Pakistan Premier Football League's (PPFL) 73rd encounter had the airmen open scoring in the seventh minute when spearhead Shakir Lashari cut in from the left side to hammer the ball past keeper Syed Dilawar Hussain. Six minutes later, PIA consolidated the lead with Nasrullah's long-range drive.
Panjgur-born Imran Khan Hashmi joined the other nine players as scorer for PIA in the current league with his first goal of the event by racing on to Abdul Jabbar's 29th minute pass to clip the ball in as the lead was enhanced further. PIA led 3-0 at interval.
HBL, led by Shakir Hussain, put up a lackluster display and failed to create any problems for PIA's keeper Syed Sultan Ali, who played for Pakistan 'A' two years ago at Kannur, India.
Quetta-born Nasrullah struck another goal when he collected stopper Zubair Moazzam's through pass and steered the ball in to make it 4-0 in the 52nd minute.
Shakir Lashari, PIA's leading marksman since they returned to competitive football in 2007, struck his second in the 71st minute.
It was the 11th league match for both outfits. PIA, coached by Tariq Lutfi, mustered 14 points while HBL produced 13 points.
Saturday's fixtures Navy v PMC Athletico at Naval Complex, Islamabad; PAF v PEL at PAF Complex, Peshawar; Army v Wapda at Army Sports Complex, Rawalpindi. Matches kick off at 4.00pm.—Agencies
