HBL overpower star studded KESC in extra time

KARACHI: Striker Khayyal Muhammad struck in the injury time to help Habib Bank Limited (HBL) stun star-studded Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) by 1-0 in a match of the Pakistan Premier Football League held here at the Korangi Baloch Football Ground in Sharafi Goth on Wednesday.After the match entered into extra time it seemed that it would end in a goalless draw but in the 92nd minute Habib Bank’s striker Khayyal Muhammad brought into the game the sort of sensation for which handful of crowd was waiting when he took a rebound on his chest on a corner kick and guided it smartly into the net to bring a 1-0 win for the bankers.Earlier, in the first half the now balanced KESC after the induction of five key players into its fold, failed to repeat the sort of performance they had shown in their 2-1 victory against KPT at the same venue the other day.Their frontline did not click as they missed three open net chances when Muhammad Rasool was off the target in the 29th and 31st minute and Abdul Rehman wasted the third just after the start of the second half.On the other hand, HBL, who had beaten NBP by 3-2 in their opener, remained lucky to convert the only fine opportunity they got in the injury time through positive striker Khayyal Muhammad.KESC coach Hassan Baloch was worried about lack of coordination among his players. “Because of the induction of five new players in the side there is a problem in coordination and that is why we missed quite few chances. But I am hopeful that we will overcome the problem as the time progresses and will get settled,” Hassan told ‘The News’.HBL coach cum manager Yousuf Khan termed his team’s win a welcome gesture for the future. “It was unbelievable. I had accepted that we will share one point each after the match entered into extra time. But we got the corner and that was converted by Khayyal Muhammad which gifted us three crucial points,” Yousuf told ‘The News’.This was the last match here in Karachi and the provincial metropolis will host their share of meetings in the 182-match marathon after Eid-ul-Fitr. KESC will now move to Rawalpindi on August 1 where they will face Army in their match at the Army Sports Complex on August 3 while HBL will proceed to Lahore where they will meet Pak Elektron Limited (PEL) in their third match on August 4 at the Model Town Football Academy Ground in the Punjab capital.Today (Thursday) is the rest day while on Friday PMC Athletico will lock horns with PEL at the Agriculture University Ground in Faisalabad.