Pakistan Premier Soccer League 2005
WAPDA becomes league-topper, PTCL, Army record major wins
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Pakistan WAPDA went to the top of Second Pakistan Premier Soccer League 2005 again when they routed Panther Club 4-0 at Faisalabad 41/JB today. Meanwhile, PTCL imposed one-sided 3-0 win over Pak PWD at Rawalpindi’s Minicipal Stadium, situated on Syed Pur Road, Satellite Town (Block-B). In another encounter, at Rawalpindi’s Army Sports Complex, Pakistan Army manage to brush aside 1982 National Champion Habib Bank Limited (HBL) 5-0.
Titlist WAPDA found no difficulty in removing Panther Club aside and build up 3-0 lead by interval. Qamar Zaman seized 15th minute lead and fast-moving striker Arif Mehmood made it 2-0 four minutes later. Qamar pounced on a stray ball to make it 3-0 in the 36th minute. The subdued home team failed to earn even consolation goal and conceded another when Khuda Bakhsh made it 4-0 in the 75th minute. The healthy win put five-times national champions WAPDA on top with 34 points from 15 games. Afghan Club occupied second spot while Army is in third place. PTCL, with handsome 3-0 win move into fifth spot after 4th-placed NBP.
PTCL, showing impressive display under manager Sharafat Bukhari and coach Yunus Rana, were in commanding position at interval with scoreboard showing PTCL 2 PWD 0. Both the goals were scored by their winger Adeel Ahmed. The man from Nowshera, Adeel struck the net twice in the 12th and 38th minute and became PTCL’s main scorer in the event with eight goals. Tahir Karamat, a hero when PTCL won the PFF President Cup at Quetta two years ago, rounded off the tally eight minutes from time. Despite a big win PTCL’s wing full-back Yasir Sabir lost his calmness and was given marching order by FIFA referee from Quetta, Jahangir Khan. Match Commissioner of the match was Irfan Khan Niazi . Shafaat Habib and Ibrahim Khan were assistant referees while fourth official was Dilawar Hussain.
Army Complex provided one-way traffic when two times national champions, in 1993 and 1995, Pakistan Army struck four goals in the first half to thrash HBL 5-0. Striker Imran Hussain, the nimble-footed striker, who represented Pakistan in Islamic Solidarity Games at Taif and home Indo-Pak Series 2005, once again put the ball into cage to raise his tally to 14 and maintained himself as leading scorer, followed by Afghan’s striker Muhammad Essa (11 goals). He got his goal in the ninth minute after Abid Gill opened the scoring in the 7th minute.
Adnan Bari, a hat-trick maker in the competition, put Army home and dry with 20th minute goal and Shabbir enhanced the lead further to 4-0 in the 33rd minute. Sohail completed the rout 15 minutes from time. Imtiaz Ali Shah supervised the match with Chaman Khan and Amir Iqbal.