PTCL lift PFF Cup on spin of coin

Published October 6, 2003

KARACHI, Oct 5: PTCL clinched the President PFF Cup football title against Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in a bizarre fashion when the final was decided on the spin of a coin on Sunday in Quetta.

According to organizers, the game was decided after tossing a coin following the consent of both team managers since the match was being telecast live by PTV and it was getting dark at Sadiq Shaheed Park Stadium where about 10,000 fans had come to see the final.

“The game remained goalless even in extra time and there was a huge crowd that had entered into the ground. As we knew it would take a long time to disperse the crowd and the light was also fading, we suggested to both teams to decide the outcome of the final after tossing a coin instead of penalty kicks,” organizing secretary Naseebullah Khan said.

KPT missed gilt-edged chances through striker Fareed Majeed and midfielder Nawaz Rahman in the 11th and 29th minutes. PTCL missed real goal-scoring chances in the opening 19 minutes of the game when Ismaeel Baba and Shahid Ahmad wasted the opportunities.

Fareed came close to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute but PTCL goalkeeper Amjad Rafiq produced a fine save.

PTCL finally broke the ice with a 58th-minute Zahid Hameed goal past KPT goalkeeper Abdul Ghani. KPT went all out against the PTCL and were duly rewarded when Mohammad Akhtar slammed home a penalty kick in the 78th minute.

Both sides remained locked at 1-1 even in the 30-minute extra time. PTCL eventually became winners after the spin of coin and received Rs30,000 as cash prize, while KPT got Rs20,000 as runners-up cash purse.

PTCL’s Mohammad Essa was declared the player of the tournament, while another player of PTCL Arif Masih was adjudged player of the final.

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