KASB Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) 2009 exploded into action with a thriller between National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and 1982 National Champions Habib Bank Limited (HBL) that HBL won 3-2 on Saturday. Bashir Shakir-led HBL took little time to settle down and slotted the ball home in the 12th minute with winger Qadeer Khan cutting in from the right wing and steering the ball past onrushing NBP keeper Amir Gul who recently visited Thailand with the national team.
The goal created lots of confusion in NBP defence but a sigh of relief occurred for coach Nasir Ismail and his team mates when HBL's stopper Aurangzeb turned the ball past his own keeper Sajid Dilawar Hussain in the 35th minute. At half time the score was 1-1.
Spokesman of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said that HBL regained the lead in the 56th minute when spearhead Muhammad Bilal went through the middle to slam the ball past Amir but their joy was short lived when NBP, under captaincy of double gold medallist of SAF Games Abdul Aziz, drew level through international winger Muhammad Asif in the 75th minute.
HBL's energetic midfielder Muhammad Ibrahim then hoodwinked three markers and beat Amir all ends up to make it 3-2 eleven minutes from time. The spectacular Ibrahim's strike turned out to be the winner for HBL.
It was disappointing result for NBP who had to play better of the second session with ten men as their international midfielder Atiq Ullah was removed from the turf following red card by the referee. 1986 National Champions Pakistan Air Force (PAF) re-opened their mission in A-Division soccer after being relegated in 2003 by snatching precious point from formidable Pakistan Navy.
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