KARACHI: The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) regained top spot in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) on Friday as Pakistan Army climbed to third while PMC Athletico claimed a vital point after they drew with the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

In the standout match of the day at the Railways Football Stadium in Lahore, the KESC beat Wapda 4-3 in a high-scoring thriller that saw two of Pakistan’s top marksmen — KESC’s Mohammad Rasool and Wapda’s Arif Mahmood — come to the fore with two goals each.

Arif gave Wapda the lead in the 11th minute when he converted from the penalty spot but their lead lasted exactly 11 minutes as Jalil Ahmed scored KESC’s equaliser in the 22nd.

Rasool then struck in the 28th before the country’s ace midfielder Essa gave the KESC a two-goal lead when he scored in the 45th.

Wapda trimmed KESC’s advantage in the 76th when Zulfiqar netted but any impressions of a comeback were quickly quelled as Rasool completed his double four minutes later to leave Arif’s 88th minute strike as little more than consolation.

The result meant the KESC opened a two-point lead at the top of the PPFL table and have 27 points from 13 games. The NBP are second.

At the Army Stadium in Rawalpindi, Army’s 1-0 victory over Afghan FC helped them overhaul defending champions Khan Research Laboratories and go third with 24 points from 12 games.

Nadeem Tariq scored the opener for the PIA in the 71st but PMC’s Zeeshan Butt struck the leveller seven minutes later with the point giving his side 10 points from 12 games while the PIA have 15 from 11.