KARACHI Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) were crowned new Pakistan Premier Football League champions after a 1-0 victory over PIA thanks to a Kaleemullah strike at Korangi Baloch Stadium on Saturday.

Although KRL and Pakistan Army were tied at 60 points each, the former emerged as the winners on better goal difference.

Kaleemullah grabbed the solitary goal which proved the match-winner just three minutes before going for the break.

Helped by a winner by Mohammad Imran, Army ended their campaign with a 2-1 win against Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to finish as runners-up at People's Sports Complex.

The soldiers took the lead through Mohammad Khabab in the 22nd minute before KPT cancelled out the effort when Mohammad Bin Younus came into action in the 62nd minute.

Army marched off as victors when Imran snatched the winning goal five minutes later.

Third position will be decided after the KESC-Wapda match on Sunday. Navy with 57 points and Wapda with 56 points are in the run for the third spot.

Points table till Dec 12 (tabulated as team, matches played, won, lost, drawn, goals for, goals against, goal difference, points).

KRL 26 18 2 6 40 8 32 60
Army 26 19 4 3 36 14 22 60
Navy 26 17 3 6 43 24 19 57
Wapda 25 17 3 5 57 25 32 56
KPT 26 11 10 5 34 30 4 38
PIA 26 10 10 6 46 28 18 36
PEL 26 10 10 6 36 27 9 36
KESC 25 9 10 6 28 27 1 33
HBL 26 7 10 9 34 39 -5 30
NBP 26 7 14 5 24 42 -18 26
PAF 26 7 15 4 27 38 -11 25
Afghan Club 26 6 16 4 19 51 -32 22
PMC Athletico 26 6 17 3 19 40 -21 21
Baloch Club 26 2 22 2 10 60 -50 8