LAHORE, Nov 28: Holders Pakistan Wapda took a giant leap towards their seventh national title when they struck once each in the closing moments of both sessions to beat Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) 2-0 in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL).

Thursday’s matches also saw Army recording a 2-1 win over Punjab Medical College (PMC) at the Army Stadium in Rawalpindi while Navy brushed Pak Elektron Limited aside 1-0 at the Naval Complex, Islamabad.

Wapda’s skipper Arif Mahmood struck the first one and created the other in the match’s final moments. Wapda surged ahead when right-winger Qamar Zaman forced KRL’s defence to commit an error and Arif Mahmood pounced on a stray ball to send it into the left corner in the 41st minute. It was Arif’s 17th goal of the event.

Wapda led 1-0 at interval and their deep defenders along with keeper Abdul Aziz allowed no room for KRL’s strikers to go through. The ageing, seasoned Jacobabad-born striker Khuda Bakhsh sealed the fate of the match with his fifth goal of the event when he came on as a substitute and sent the ball into the net after Arif opened the gap for him in the game’s final minute.

But despite their precious win, Wapda suffered frustration too. Their former skipper Zahid Hameed was sent off following a second yellow card.

At the Army Stadium, the host team had their skipper Imran Hussain opening the score for them in the 12th minute.

Army led 1-0 at interval and winger Adnan Bari consolidated the lead in the 81st minute. PMC slotted the consolation goal through midfielder Ghulam Mustafa in the final minute of the game.

The Navy-PEL encounter saw Navy completing a double over PEL with another 1-0 win. The all-important goal was scored by striker Sajjad Ahmed in the 37th minute.

Saturday’s fixture: KESC v KPT at Peoples Stadium, Karachi, at 3.00pm. —Agencies