Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) took giant step towards their seventh national title when they struck once in closing minutes of each session to beat KRL 2-0 in the Pakistan Premier Soccer League. In other matches, Pakistan Army snatched 2-1 win over PMC while Navy repeated the score line of first leg by brushing aside PEL 1-0.
Wapda's skipper Arif Mehmood played role of hero, as he struck the first one and scored the other in closing seconds. Wapda took control of match right from the words go and after some poor finishing they surged ahead following the fine work by two SAF Games 2004 gold medallist. Right winger Qamar Zaman forced KRL's defence to commit error and Arif Mehmood pounced on stray ball to send the ball into left corner in the 41st minute. It was Arif's 17th goal of the event- four behind KRL's Muhammad Rasool who led the scorer's list with 21 goals.
Wapda led 1-0 at interval and their keeper Abdul Aziz gave no room to KRL strikers to go through despite knowing the fact that KRL were 3-1 victorious in first leg at Lahore. Jaccobabad-born striker Khuda Bakhsh sealed the fate of the match with his 5th goal of the event. He came on as substitute and sent the ball into net after Arif opened the gap for him to go through in the final minute of the game. Wapda did suffer frustration despite precious win when their former skipper Zahid Hameed was sent off following second yellow card. KRL collected 45 points from 24 matches while Wapda managed 47 points with a game in hand.
Army recorded 2-1 win over PMC with skipper Imran Hussain opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Army led 1-0 at interval and winger Adnan Bari consolidated the lead in the 81st minute. PMC slotted consolation goal through midfielder Ghulam Mustafa in the final minute of the game. Second-placed Army recorded 47 points from 24 matches while PMC completed 23 games that produced 30 points for them.
Navy completed double over PEL with another 1-0 win. Striker Sajjad Ahmed scored the all-important goal in the 37th minute, which turned out to be his ninth goal. Sajjad is best scorer for Navy in the ongoing show and he was also their leading marksman in 2007 edition. Navy secured 39 points from 24 matches while PEL registered 27 points from 23 games.
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