KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) strengthened their chances of gaining promotion to next season’s Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) by edging past Higher Education Commission (HEC) 1-0 in the Group of Five round of the Departmental Leg of the second-division Pakistan Football Federation League (PFFL) on Tuesday.

SSGC’s second win in a row, secured courtesy Imran Senior’s late strike, sent them top of the five-team mini-league with six points from three games, two points ahead of HEC.

Imran struck in the 81st minute at the KPT Stadium in a match which had seen two teams largely cancel out each other to seal victory for SSGC, who followed their 4-0 win over Karachi United in their last match having lost their opening game 1-0 to Pakistan Police.

HEC came into the match unbeaten in their previous two matches, having beaten Pakistan Railways 2-1 in the opening game and drawing 1-1 with Karachi United in their second game.

Railways, meanwhile, bounced back from that defeat to beat Police 3-2 in the second match on Tuesday at the KPT Stadium. The result meant Railways joined Police on three points with both teams having played two games apiece.

In an end-to-end game, goals by Tahir Hussain and Kibriya in the space of four minutes helped Railways take a 2-0 lead by the 32nd minute.

Police reduced the deficit before half-time with Azharuddin scoring in the 37th and pulling level through Munib’s strike in the 56th but Nasir Ali’s goal five minutes later secured Railways’ victory.

The team which ends at the top in the Group of Five round will be promoted to the PPFL and play the winner of the Club Leg Final Round to decide the PFFL champions.

The three-team Club Leg Final Round kicked off on Tuesday in Layyah with Baloch FC Quetta playing out a goalless draw with Baloch FC Dalbandin in Layyah. The third team in the mix is Milli Afghan FC.