LAHORE, Oct 11: The 86th Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) encounter saw four-time national champions Army put up great play in the second half of the game to beat the 2006 Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) League champions Pakistan Television (PTV) 3-0 at Rawalpindi’s Army Sports Complex on Saturday.

It was Army’s, the national champions in 1993, 1995, 2005 and 2006, first home match in the current tournament. They now have 19 points from their 10 outings to occupy the fifth spot behind League-leaders KPT, HBL, KESC and KRL. PTV, on the other hand, after having lost 11 straight games, are yet to open their account.

The first session produced no goal thanks to PTV’s tight defensive strategy. However, the second session saw Army changing their game plan to strike the much-needed opener in the 46th minute. Spotting an opening, midfielder Majid Khan sent the ball to striker Sharjeel Vicky who then made no mistake in sending it to the net. It was Vicky’s first goal in the event.

The goal infused new spirit among the soldiers who were 2-0 within four minutes. International striker and the top scorer of the 2005 event Imran Hussain went on his own to beat the advancing keeper in order to take his fifth goal in the event.

Meanwhile, Sharjeel Vicky struck his second to round off the tally in the 63rd minute. Controlling a long hit from the keeper, he side-footed two defenders to fire the ball into the right corner.

Sunday’s fixture: Pak Elektron Limited v Wapda at the Railway Stadium in Lahore at 4.00pm.—Agencies