NBP 2……………………..KRL 1

HBL 1……………………..Afghan Club 1

KARACHI, Sept 1: Two-goal Mohammad Ashraf poached an injury-time match-winner to help National Bank (NBP) edge past ten-man Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) 2-1 in the Premier League at CDGK Stadium on Thursday.

The bankers could have opened their account in the 38th minute had Farooq Shah not missed a chance, while NBP goalkeeper Zahid Taj saved a long range effort from Qadeer Ahmad a minute into second session.

Undaunted, Qadeer raced down the right with a defender behind before shooting the ball low into left corner of the cage after rattling the post while the rest of the KRL defence was beaten in the 55th minute.

While Samad of KRL received a yellow card for a foul in the box, NBP’s Mohammad Ashraf’s spot kick was saved by KRL goalkeeper Asim who could not stop Ashraf from scoring the equaliser from the rebound.

Zahid, the bankers’ goalkeeper, produced an excellent save when he tipped a superb 30-metre Atique drive over the bar in the 66th minute.

KRL were reduced to ten players when referee Younus Lal Samad flashed red after a second yellow for argument on a decision in the 67th minute. Samad will also miss the next match.

NBP would not be having the services of Aurangzaib after he received his second yellow in the 69th minute and a one-match suspension.

Despite having a player less, KRL pressed for the winner, this time through Sajjad Hussain who sent the ball wide off target, while on the other end bankers might have scored but were involved in individual play.

Imran could not manage to find the target off a rebound following a fumble by KRL goalkeeper Asim on a Mohammad Ismail try in the 84th minute.

The bankers had a close shave when KRL almost went ahead through Qadeer whose effort was saved on the line by Ismail four minutes from time.

Mounting pressure two minutes into injury-time, the bankers got what they were looking for as Ashraf cut in from right to net the match-winner.

Aimal Khan saved Afghan Club from defeat when he slammed home an equaliser in 1-1 draw against Habib Bank (HBL) at Aga Khan Gymkhana.

The bankers went 1-0 up through Kamran in the 15th minute before Aimal rescued Chaman’s outfit with an 80th-minute strike.

Friday’s fixture: