KARACHI: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) thrashed Habib Bank Limited (HBL) 5-0 in the Pakistan Premier Football League on Wednesday to move to within a point of league leaders Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and National Bank.

PAF’s victory at their own PAF Complex Ground in Peshawar meant that they moved level on 27 points with both Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and Pakistan Army with all teams having played 14 matches.

A 12-minute blitz gave PAF an upper hand in their clash against HBL as Mansoor Khan’s 15th minute opener was followed by Irfan Ali’s goal barely a minute later.

When Mohammad Mujahid struck in the 27th, HBL were anything but deflated and it was a question of how many goals PAF could score.

In the end, they could only get two with Mohammad Arif scoring in the 51st and Mohammad Asif Nawaz completing the rout five minutes later.

Elsewhere in Islamabad, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) got a crucial victory after they defeated Karachi Port Trust (KPT) 2-0 at the Jinnah Football Stadium.

KPT goalkeepr Sajid Hassan was penalised for a foul in the penalty box in the 27th minute and Syed Ghazi made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick to give ZTBL the lead.

Waqas Ahmed’s strike in the 51st doubled ZTBL’s advantage and guaranteed them all three points that took their tally to 11 from 12 matches.

Thursday’s fixtures: Wapda v Baloch FC (Railways Football Stadium, Lahore); PMC Athletico v Navy (PMC Football Ground, Faisalabad); Army v NBP (Army Stadium, Rawalpindi); Wohaib FC v Muslim FC (UMT Football Ground, Lahore); KRL v Afghan FC (Railways Football Stadium, Lahore).—Sports Reporter