KARACHI, May 12: Pakistan’s premier striker has finally announced himself on the continental stage.

On Sunday, Khan Research Laboratories’ hot-shot Kaleemullah struck five times in his side’s 8-0 demolition of Bhutanese title-holders Yeedzin FC in the Philippines which helped ensure the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) champions place in the second stage of the AFC President’s Cup.

“He’s a little temperamental but when he’s on song, there is little the opposition can do to stop him,” KRL head coach Tariq Lutfi told Dawn after the Group ‘B’ match in Cebu City.

Yeedzin discovered that on Sunday.

After giving KRL the lead from the penalty spot as early as the fourth minute, Kaleem was unstoppable in the second-half as he pumped in four goals in a 19-minute spell which turned KRL’s already-assured victory into a rout.

Goals by Abid Khan, Zia-us-Salam and Saadullah earlier had put KRL 4-0 up at half-time.

But the day belonged to Kaleem.

PPFL’s top-scorer last season en route to KRL’s second successive title, Kaleem has flattered to deceive on an international level.

He has been forced to adapt to playing in midfield for the national side and despite a lot of expectations, was barely noticeable in Pakistan’s disastrous AFC Challenge Cup qualifying campaign in March.

But he’s an altogether different player when he is in KRL colours.

“We [at KRL] play with an attacking mindset,” KRL captain Samar Ishaq told Dawn on the eve of the team’s departure to the Philippines. “When we play, Kaleem is our main man in attack and that is why he scores so many goals.”

Shades of Lionel Messi perhaps. When Messi plays for Barcelona, he is their focal point but when playing for Argentina, the FIFA World Player of the Year has not been as consistent.

Kaleem, who idolizes Messi, had vowed to do well in the President’s Cup.

“It has not been a good few months for me,” he said three days before KRL’s first match in Asia’s third-tier club competition. “…but hopefully I’ll find my scoring boots in the Philippines.”

Although he was a livewire in KRL’s opening two games — a 1-1 draw against group favourites Dordoi Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan before a 2-0 win over Philippine champions Global FC — he finally made his mark against Yeedzin.

Already being eyed by some clubs outside Pakistan, his latest performance will attract attention from other sides across the continent.

Lutfi, meanwhile, is hoping his star striker stays in form in the next stage of the tournament.

“We’ve played really well during the course of the tournament,” he said. “Last season too we did well in the opening round to qualify for the next stage. We’ll hope to do well and with Kaleem scoring, we can hope to do well.

“Coming into the tournament, I thought we had to play really well against Dordoi and Global and after doing that, it eased our qualification concerns.”

KRL, who now return to Pakistan to defend their National Challenge Cup title, qualify as runners-up from Group ‘B’ with Dordoi taking top spot on goal-difference after their 6-1 thrashing of Global FC on Sunday.

Despite taking an early lead through Carlie de Murga, Global were torn apart by a rampant Dordoi side who went 2-1 into the break.

Four goals in the second-half, largely aided by an error-prone performance by Ivorian goalkeeper Moussa Sanogo, sent Global out of the competition.

“That is his last game for Global,” said their Scottish coach Brian Reid told Philippine broadcasters GMA News after the game regarding Sanogo.

Two-time champions Dordoi and KRL ended level on seven points with Global on three. Yeedzin, meanwhile, had a dismal campaign as they lost all their three games, conceding a whopping 22 goals.

The two teams from Group ‘B’ will be joined by two teams each from Groups ‘A’ and ‘C’.

Group ‘A’ came to a close in Kathmandu on Saturday with Nepalese title-winners Three Star Club finishing top and Mongolian side Erchim FC ending as runners-up.

In Group ‘C’, which was being played at the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, Turkmenistan side Balkan FC clinched top spot with Palestinian outfit Al Quds Hilal Club ending second.

The second round of the tournament, in a yet to be decided venue, will see the six teams divided into two groups of three with the group winners clashing in the final.

Three Star Club coach Pradip Humagain, meanwhile, is eyeing home comforts for the second stage.

“We would love to play the finals on home soil,” he told the Himalayan Times. “Playing on home soil will always be an advantage, but we are capable of winning the title at any place.”