Pakistan Navy obstructed Wapda's run of 16 victory with sensational 1-0 win at Railway Stadium, to jump to 5th place in Pakistan Premier Football League on Tuesday. In another match, Young Blood FC earned their 11th point when they drew 2-2 with PAF. It proved to be the first-half high-point for the visitors under Khalid Zubair.
His boys won the hearts of their officials with Nasir Hussain, Rizwan Tanoli and Nomi Martin Gill in outstanding touch. Their double SAF Games gold medallist Muhammad Shahzad made fine saves. Zubair was not to threaten the half-time tea-cups, but his side certainly emerged from the dressing room with a spring in their collective step and they were the better side in an almost-equally forgettable second half. Within 60 seconds of the restart, Asif Bakhsh headed across goal and Aziz, little more than six yards out, forced Nasir Hussain into the best save of the match.
Navy then had two penalty claims turned down. Nomi Martin's tumble was wildly optimistic, though Jehangir's decision to wave play on as Naveed Akram, jumping with arms aloft, appeared to be struck on the hand was less clear cut. And though the visiting side gradually grew in confidence and competence - Martin twice stabbed shots at goal from promising positions, while Aziz dragged a late half-chance well wide - they failed to find their second goal but still Abdul Haq provided them three points as Pakistan Navy earned four of the possible six points between two.
The Blood-PAF thriller saw three goals in the first half and it was left to ace striker Asim Mansoor to snatch leveller in the 52nd minute as match ended 2-2. The airmen were in happy mood when they were 2-0 up with goals by midfielder Arif Nawaz and striker Muhammad Zeeshan in the 18th and 20th minute, respectively. Local player of Sahiwal, Zain Khalid reduced the deficit in the 37th minute and it was left to another Sahiwal-based Asim Mansoor to assure one point each for both teams.
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