WAPDA emerge as strong favourite in PPL

LAHORE Seven-times national champions WAPDA, despite missing services of Muhammad Ahmed, Zain Ullah and Haider Ali due to Asian Games commitment, are well on the way to snatch their eight national tile. WAPDA lead the table with 37 points as all teams completed the round of 14 on Monday. After Tuesdays rest day, the event will resume on Wednesday at Municipal Stadium Rawalpindi with two matches. KRL will face Young Blood (12.30 PM) and Navy face WAPDA (3.00 PM). Army are second with 27 points. Afghan FC, looking for maiden title in seventh attempt, and nine-times champions PIA are in third spot with 26 points but Afghans goal difference in better than Tariq Lutfis team. PAF are in fifth spot while holders KRL are in sixth spot. The 112 matches held so far produced 86 results while 26 matches ended in draw. The 282 goals is comprised of six hat-tricks, two of them slammed by WAPDAs skipper and spearhead Arif Mehmood. Both against newly-promoted Sahiwals Young Blood at Rai Ali Nawaz Stadium, Sahiwal and at Railway Stadium, Lahore. KPT-PFF Cup MVP Zafar Majeed, did the feat against NBP at Korangi Baloch Stadium, Karachi while right-winger Jadeed Khan (Afghan FC)s 17-minute spell was too smart for Young Blood who suffered 0-3 drubbing at Rai Ali Nawaz Stadium. The heroic 5-2 win over KPT saw Jacobabad-born ageing Khuda Bakhsh (WAPDA) giving awful time to Portman at Railway Stadium, Lahore and and former Pakistani midfielder Nomi Martin Gill shattered SSGC defence as Navy roared to 6-0 win at Municipal Stadium Rawalpindi.

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