KARACHI: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) continued their relentless march towards the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) title with a 2-1 victory over Karachi Port Trust (KPT) here on Saturday.
Captain Samar Ishaq scored the winner from the penalty spot at the KPT Football Stadium to put the defending champions within a point of retaining their title.
Only Pakistan Army have a mathematical chance of winning the PPFL but for that to happen, they require KRL to lose all their remaining four fixtures and win their last four matches.
KRL have 65 points from 26 games while the fourth-placed Army have 54. Second-placed Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and the third-placed Muslim FC, who thumped struggling PMC Athletico 4-0, are level on 56 points from 28 matches.
Kamran Khan gave KRL a third-minute lead from a set-piece but KPT replied strongly and scored an equaliser through Ghulam Raza.
Samar then made no mistake as he coolly dispatched a 77th-minute spot-kick to secure all three points.
At the Government High School Ground in Chaman, Haji Mohammad scored in each half as Muslim FC boosted their chances of finishing second while dealing a severe blow to PMC’s chances of survival.
Haji Mohammad put Muslim FC ahead in the sixth minute before Mohammad Dawood doubled it in the 21st. Haji’s second came in the 71st before Saeed Ahmed rounded off the scoring eight minutes later.
PMC are in the relegation zone with 24 points and desperately need a victory in their final game of the season to have any chance of survival. They also need Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to lose their remaining two games.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) remain fifth on 53 points after they did not turn up for their game against Baloch FC at the Noushki Football Stadium.
The walkover helped Baloch FC make sure they will stay in the PPFL for another season as they moved to 30 points. Sunday’s fixtures: Afghan FC v ZTBL (Govt. High School Ground, Chaman); Navy v Army (PNS Karsaz Football Ground,
Karachi); HBL v Wapda (Peoples Football Stadium, Karachi).