LAHORE, Oct 18: Wapda scored twice in the second session to beat Pak Elektron Limited (PEL) 3-1 in Pakistan Premier Football League’s 99th encounter played here at the Railway Stadium on Saturday.

PEL started the game on a 5-3-2 formation with their leading scorer Asmatullah marshalling deep defence. Wapda on the other hand started the game in a positive mood and opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Winger Abdul Abbas took aim at Mujahid Sarfraz, PEL’s keeper, who failed to hold the ball that the Dera Ismail Khan-born striker Imran Niazi had hammered in.

PEL suffered a setback in the 21st minute when referee Asif Bin Younus flashed a red card to midfielder Awais for dangerously tackling of the ball. But the 10-men PEL team put up a dazzling display till interval, missing six sure chances with Wapda’s keeper Abdul Aziz thwarting most of their attempts.

Muzaffar Ali, who missed three sitters, even hit the right post in the 42nd minute. PEL however did earn the equaliser in the 31st minute when their vice captain Najam-ul-Sehar’s long-range kick popped out of Aziz’s hands and striker Rizwan Asif put the ball in. It was 1-1 at interval.

Wapda made a tactical change in the second session by sending in seasoned campaigners Zahid Hameed and Khuda Bakhsh who became instrumental in taking the game out of PEL’s hands.

Arif Mehmood made it 2-1 in the 58th minute. Substitute Mohammad Shahid cut the ball across the area, Asmatullah failed to clear it properly and Arif smashed it into the left corner, leaving Mujahid stranded.

Wapda missed two more chances through Imran Niazi in the 66th and 77th minutes and it was left to Arif to score his second goal when Khuda Bakhsh sent a defence-splitting pass his way and Arif steered the ball low into the left corner.

Sunday’s fixtures: Pakistan Steel v Afghan FC at the Pakistan Steel Township Ground, Karachi; Karachi Port Trust v Habib Band Limited at the CDGK Stadium, Karachi; Pakistan International Airlines v Karachi Electric Supply Corporation at the Korangi Baloch Stadium, Karachi. All matches kick off at 4.00pm.—Agencies