KARACHI: Promising Habib Bank Limited (HBL) defeated Chaman’s Afghan FC by 2-0 while Pakistan Steel held leaders Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to a 2-2 draw in two separate encounters of the Pakistan Premier Football League, held here at different venues on Friday.

The other match held between Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) also ended in a 2-2 draw. At Peoples Stadium, HBL who are still maintaining second place after KPT, made a good start to the second phase of the competition with a convincing 2-0 triumph against the visitors Afghan FC.

In the initial forty minutes of play mostly the ball was kept rolling in the midfield with no aggression from any side. However, the bankers converted the only good opportunity just before breather when Zakir Lashari struck with a header on a superb cross from right full-back Auranzgeb. At half time, HBL had a 1-0 edge.

In the second half Afghan FC’s frontline, featuring the talented Mehmood Khan and Hayatullah, made brave attempts but all of them went off target. The bankers doubled the lead two minutes before the final whistle when Ishtiaq struck through a personal effort.

The win took HBL’s points to 24 from 14 matches and they are still at second place while Afghan FC have 18 points from 11 meetings and are occupying fifth place. In the other tie held at the CDGK Stadium Pakistan Steel earned a 2-2 draw against KPT after a thrilling encounter watched by a capacity crowd. Young Zahid Ahmad provided KPT early lead when his sharp drive from ten yards went past the unmoved opposition’s goalie Haroon Rasheed. But the lead did not last for long as Muhammad Arshad brought an equaliser for the visitors Pakistan Steel. At half time the match was evenly poised at 1-1.

In the second half KPT played in aggressive fashion and doubled the lead in the 55th minute when Abdul Rehman scored an easy goal on a juicy pass from left winger Shahid Salim. But after that KPT’s frontline failed to capitalise on numerous opportunities that came their way due to poor finishing. It was only four minutes before the final whistle when Abdul Wahab squared the show for Pakistan Steel with a fine goal.

With the draw, leaders KPT moved their points to 25 from 14 matches while Pakistan Steel have 16 points from 13 meetings. At Peoples Stadium Shakir Lashari’s double strike helped PIA play a 2-2 draw against KESC. International Shakir gave PIA the lead in the 39th minute and the same 1-0 tally lasted till half time.

Ten minutes into the second half KESC were able to bring an equaliser through a 38-yard drive from Aftab Ahmad. Ten minutes later Shakir again put PIA ahead through a personal effort. But as usual, the man of crisis Lal Muhammad saved KESC from a real defeat when his left-footer from twenty yards went past the PIA goalie Sultan.

The draw took PIA’s points to 14 from 15 matches while KESC moved to 21 points from 13 matches and are still maintaining third place. Today’s fixtures: Army v PTV at Army Stadium, Rawalpindi, KRL v Navy at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.