LAHORE, Nov 24: Nine-time national champions PIA once again drew the match against the six-time national champions Wapda 1-1 in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) match played at Railway Stadium, Lahore on Monday.

Meanwhile, Punjab Medical College (PMC) overwhelmed National Bank of Pakistan 2-1 at PMC Ground, Faisalabad.

The highlight of the PIA-Wapda clash were the two spectacular long-range goals, scored by the midfielders Liaquat Ali of PIA and Zahid Hameed of Wapda.

The first leg’s match between the two famous outfits of Pakistan had ended in a 0-0 draw last August but Swat-born Liaquat Ali stopped the goal draught in the 20th minute of the second leg when his forceful drive from 30 metres slipped out of keeper Abdul Aziz’s hands to go over the line.

PIA led 1-0 at interval and had to start the second session without their regular keeper Bilal Rafiq who had to leave the field with a broken tooth after colliding with his stopper Zubair Moazzam.

Sultan Ali replaced him but within five minutes of his arrival Wapda restored parity. Zahid Hameed drifted away to the right and sent in an angular drive from 35 metres, beating Sultan all ends. The game’s final 15 minutes provided tense absorbing soccer with both the teams going all out for a lead, which couldn’t happen for both.

Meanwhile, in the other match, PMC brushed aside NBP 2-1 with all the goals coming in the first session.

PMC’s striker Bashir Ahmed opened the scoring in the 14th minute while Muzammil Hussain doubled the lead in the 29th minute. Spearhead Mohammad Asif pulled one back in the final minute of the first half.

Tuesday’s fixture: Army v Afghan FC at Army Stadium, Rawalpindi, at 3.00pm.—Agencies