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WEEKLY
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| Bilal strikes to win match for Habib Bank |
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Tuesday, November 03, 2009
By Alam Zeb Safi
KARACHI: Bilal Ahmad’s lone strike in the second half propelled Habib Bank Limited (HBL) to secure their sixth win of the season when they beat Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) 1-0 while Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) held Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to a 1-1 draw in matches of the Pakistan Premier Football league held here on Monday.
Here at the DHA Stadium, Bilal Ahmad scored when he splendidly steer the ball past keeper Muhammad Umar after he was smartly fed by midfielder Ibrahim on the far end. Interestingly, the match commissioner Asif Zaheer had mistakenly pinned down the goal in his scoresheet in favour of Ishtiaq instead of the Bilal Ahmad. However, the match commissioner had to correct the statistic when he was contacted by Habib Bank manager Yousuf Khan on the enquiry of ‘The News’ whether the goal was scored by Bilal or Ishtiaq.
In the 19th minute, KESC were unlucky not to take the lead when Javed Hamza’s drive on a kick from Aurangzeb Junior collided with the goalpost. In the 37th minute, KESC produced another fine opportunity but their strikers who could not connect on a fine cross from Javed Hamza with the opponents’ goalie and defenders beaten.
No aggression was seen after the breather as well and Bilal’s strike in the 59th minute proved to be the decisive in favour of the bankers. With the win, Habib Bank moved to 26 points from 19 matches while KESC have 23 points from 18 appearances.
Meanwhile, here at the Shadab Football Ground in Federal B Area, PIA’s late goal helped them to hold KPT to a 1-1 draw. Zahid Ahmad provided KPT with the lead in the 20th minute. However, PIA brought parity through Zeeshan Ali who struck in the 55th minute. Earlier, just after kick-off, goalkeeper Sajid saved KPT from when he made a diving save on forceful kick from PIA’s Nazir Ahmad. In the 12th minute, KPT could have taken the lead but winger Zahid Ahmad’s shot went off the target. KPT were unlucky to take the decisive lead with only nine minutes remaining when Naseer Ahmad’s piercing drive on a cross from Wasim Cheena hit the post.
Today’s fixtures: PEL v Navy (Model Town Football Academy Ground, Lahore), PMC Athletico v Army (Agriculture University Ground, Faisalabad).
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ISSN 1563-9479 
