KARACHI, Jan 9: PMC Athletico’s six-year stay in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) came to an end after the Faisalabad club drew 1-1 with Baloch FC on Wednesday.
Going into the match in Noushki, PMC’s chances of staying in the country’s top-flight league were already minimal as they had to beat Baloch FC by at least seven goals and hope the Zarai Taraqiati Bank (ZTBL) lost to Muslim FC in Chaman.
The ZTBL fell to a 1-0 defeat but PMC could not fulfil their part of the deal and after a dreadful season were relegated to the second-tier Pakistan Football Federation League (PFFL).
PMC striker Fazal Hussain showed great desire to overcome the odds and avert the drop for his side as he created scoring chances for his team but they failed to take them in a barren first half at the Noushki Football Stadium.
They went on the attack from the onset in the second half but it was Baloch FC who scored on the counterattack through Sanaullah in the 68th to break PMC’s hearts.
However, they did salvage a point — and some pride — from their final game of the season when Waqas Ahmed scored eight minutes later after some good work from Fazal in creating the opening.
The PMC ended the season with 25 points, two behind the ZTBL and will now join Wohaib FC in the PFFL next season. The two sides will be replaced in the PPFL by Pak-Afghan Clearing Agency (PACA) and fellow Faisalabad side University FC.
The relegation of PMC and Wohaib is a clear indication that privately-owned clubs cannot compete with departments either on the pitch, or off it.
Muslim FC’s victory at the Government High School in Chaman, meanwhile, put them level on points with second-placed Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and makes the race to finish second in the league even more interesting.
The KESC and Muslim FC have 59 points with the former ahead on goal-difference with both sides having one match of the season left to play. Pakistan Army, meanwhile, lie third on 56 points although they have a game in hand over KESC and Muslim FC.
The ZTBL were looking to end the season on a high against Muslim FC and they showed great character as they played some good attacking football in front of a capacity crowd in Chaman.
Striker Hanif Khan was a constant threat but it was his namesake who found the back of the net for Muslim FC as Mohammad Hanif scored the winner in the 70th minute.
With the PPFL title already in the bag, the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) faced Habib Bank Limited (HBL) in the third game of the day here at the People’s Sports Complex and got off the hook after Mohammad Qasim scored a late winner in a 2-1 victory.
Striker Abid Khan gave the champions the lead in the 26th minute but they displayed some post-title profligacy as they allowed the HBL to score equaliser through Atif six minutes later.
However, attacking midfielder Qasim popped up with the winner in the 76th to secure all three points that took them to 69 points with two games left to play in the season.
Thursday’s fixtures: National Bank of Pakistan v Pakistan Army (Korangi Football Stadium, Karachi); Karachi Port Trust v Wapda (KPT Football Stadium, Karachi).