LAHORE, Jan 31: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) leapt to A-Division Soccer, to be staged later this year, when they edged out the 10-men Railways team by 2-1 in the final of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) League (departmental phase) at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, on Saturday.

PAF and Railways, both former national champions, started the game cautiously. The real action started in the 11th minute when PAF’s right-winger Mohammad Zeeshan floored a chance while getting unbalanced by Railway’s keeper and captain Mohammad Tariq.

Railways suffered major frustration in the 21st minute when international midfielder Arshed Jan sent the ball forward to striker Mohammad Jamil. In his confusion, the advancing Bhawalnagar-born keeper Tariq, touched the ball with his hand outside of the penalty area and FIFA Referee Jehangir Khan made no hesitation in issuing him the marching orders.

Railways then asked stopper Amir Khan to take the captain’s arm band from Tariq and withdrew winger Mohammad Anees in order to accommodate the reserve keeper Mohammad Imran.

The under-strength Railways suffered further agony when the Pir Mahal-born Mohammad Zeeshan landed the opener with a forceful shot that smacked the crossbar and rolled behind Imran in the 29th minute after some neat work on the right flank. PAF led 1-0 at interval.

Railways put up a spirited display in the second session and earned a penalty-kick in the 77th minute and the stand-in skipper Amir Khan made no mistake from the penalty mark, leaving keeper Khalid Khan stranded.

Just when it looked like the rough game would be going into extra time, midfielder Saleh Khan of Khyber Agency scored with an unstoppable drive past Imran to make their Brazilian coach Jader Emmanoel dos Santos Campello proud.—Agencies