LAHORE, Nov 14: Midfielder Mohammad Rashid turned hero as Pak Elektron Limited (PEL) took sweet revenge from Pakistan Steel with a 2-1 comeback win at the Railway Stadium, Lahore, while Karachi Port Trust (KPT) beat Navy 1-0 at Naval Complex, Islamabad, in the two Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) matches played in different cities on Friday.
Although PEL, who had lost to Steel 0-3 in the first leg, had a shaky start when left winger Mohammad Bakhsh slotted the ball home with a header that left keeper Ahmed Shahzad dazed in the 13th minute, they still emerged the victors in the end.
PEL scored the equaliser in the 34th minute when Referee Waheed Murad penalised Steel’s left full Abrar Ahmed for a handball infringement and Rashid converted his fourth penalty kick of the event in his typical style, slamming the ball into the extreme left corner. It was 1-1 at interval.
PEL opened the second session in a whirlwind fashion, utilising their fifth corner in the 47th minute. Rashid curled the ball across the area, leaving Steel’s defenders mesmerized and PEL’s centre defender Najam-ul-Sehar took his chance to steer the ball in with a powerful header. Steel had a golden opportunity to stage a comeback when they earned the 52nd minute penalty kick, given for a handball by stopper and skipper Ijaz Sarfraz. But right full Mamoon Rasheed stroked the ball wide off target. Meanwhile in the other match, KPT overwhelmed Navy through their striker Abdul Rehman’s 13th goal of he event. Rehman struck the all important goal in the 53rd minute.
Saturday’s fixtures: Wapda v Habib Bank Limited at Railway Stadium, Lahore; Punjab Medical College v Pakistan International Airlines at PMC Ground, Faisalabad. Matches kick off at 3.00pm.—Agencies