The airmen dominated the closing minutes to overpower KESC with two late goals and jumped to fifth place after KRL, Navy, Wapda and Army. —APP/File Photo

KARACHI Shakir Lashari fired two goals as the 78th Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) encounter ended in favour of the nine-time national champions Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at the Shadab Football Stadium here on Monday.

The airmen dominated the closing minutes to overpower Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) with two late goals and jumped to fifth place after KRL, Navy, Wapda and Army.

PIA had better ball possession in the first half but their international frontrunners failed to capitalise on the chances coming their way. PIA's keeper Syed Sultan Ali was also active under the bar and denied their opponents from scoring to keep the score line 0-0 at interval.

PIA's captain Nasrullah Khan created both opportunities with Shakir as the executor of the goals. His first goal was recorded in the 81st minute when Nasrullah won a midfield skirmish and opened the gate for Shakir to go up and push the ball gently past keeper Mohammad Omar. And the second emerged in the 86th minute when Nasrullah went through the middle, side steeping three markers and pushed the ball low for Shakir to send it into the roof of the net. It was the fifth win for PIA in the current league. Both the teams completed their 12th match with PIA recording 17 points as compared to KESC's 13.

Tuesday's fixtures PAF v PMC Athletico at the PAF Complex, Islamabad; Army v PEL at Army Sports Complex, Rawalpindi; KRL v Wapda at KRL Stadia, Rawalpindi. Matches kick off at 4.00pm.—Agencies