Earlier, two-goal Mohammad Essa starred in his side’s thumping 4-0 win over runners-up Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), in another knock-out round match at People’s Sports Complex.
Home favourites Karachi Port Trust (KPT) forwards could rightly be blamed for the defeat as they disappointed some 12,000 partisan crowd by wasting several clear-cut chances in the stipulated time as well as in the extra period of play.
Only Ashfaq’s opportunist close-range strike, following a crisp Amjad Zikria cross from the left, in the 10th minute of the second half of extra time killed KPT’s hopes and spared ABL’s blushes.
The two sides failed to score despite hectic efforts in the first half as their defence proved better than their forwards.
ABL were visibly without any firepower, while the portmen could not move the scoreboard, chiefly because they missed sitters, especially in the second half.
KPT’s first try came in the 53rd minute which saw Lal Bukhsh squandering a Fareed Majeed cross. ABL’s Zia-ul-Hassan, after some rough play, got injured, but was shown a yellow card before being stretchered off in the 68th minute.
The next minute, Lal Bukhsh again came close to scoring but was prevented by ABL goalkeeper Noman Ibrahim just within the box. The bankers were reduced to 10 men in the 71st minute with Zia ordered off after he was booked for a dangerous offence near the touchline.
Both sides launched two counter-attacks each other with the space of three minutes only to be denied by their goalkeepers.
Fareed, who could have broken the ice, missed from close-range after being cleverly set up by Lal Bukhsh in the 86th minute.
Two minutes later, Fareed cut in deep to his right before releasing a perfect cross for well-positioned Mohammad Ameen who, instead of a tap-in, ballooned his shot over the bar.
KPT continued to attack and then fumbling with the ball in front of goalmouth as both Ameen and Lal Bukhsh wasted an opportunity each in the first 15 minutes of extra time. Pakistan junior skipper Ashfaq finally stabbed the ball home after some hard work by Amjad.
Meanwhile, Pakistan striker Essa had his name onto the scoresheet with his 30-yard drive from an acute angle in the 24th minute to give PTCL a fine start.
Shahid Ahmad deceived the KRL keeper Asim Khursheed to find the target on 35 minutes after a Adeel Ahmad pass. Essa got his double with a 43rd-minute penalty kick PTCL were awarded after a foul by KRL player.
KRL who had scored a convincing 9-1 victory over City District Government Quetta in a league match, caved in when PTCL’s fourth goal was slotted in by substitute Sher Hassan with a minute before full time.
Monday’s fixtures:
KESC v Afghan Agency Chaman at 1.00pm; NBP v Pakistan Navy at 3.00pm.