Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Melaka: KRL Football Club stormed into the final of the AFC President’s Cup 2013 after beating AlQuds Hilal of Palestine 2-0 at Hang Jebat Stadium in Malaysia on Friday.
The Pakistani league champions, who had defeated two-time champions Dordoi of Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in their campaign opener on Monday, did not finish their efforts at goal until the 77th minute when they opened the scoring, before sealing their 2-0 win three minutes into stoppage time.
The first real try at goal was on 25 minutes when KRL striker Muhammad Rizwan Asif sprinted with ball in the 18-yard box and managed to whiz past by ALQuds goalkeeper Mohammed MA Aburoumi but then lost control of the ball.
AlQuds had their first chance at goal on 28 minutes as Wajde Abu Yons fired a shot from left side but it was stopped smartly by KRL goalkeeper Saqib Hanif.
AlQuds midfielder Ahmed IA Miari then took a free kick from outside the 18-yard box on the right side on 42 minutes but the ball flew across the six-yard box connecting with nobody and went out of play before the game into the break.
KRL had a chance seven minutes after the interval to open the scoring as Abu Yons sprinted towards the penalty area one-one-one with KRL goalkeeper Hanif who managed to stop the attack.
On 65 minutes, substitute defender Muhammad Zeeshan was in the six-yard box with just the prolific AlQuds goalie but his header went clear above the crossbar.
The deadlock finally broke when a pass from the left side connected with KRL prolific striker Kaleemullah who fired an unstoppable shot right into AlQuds’ net on 77 minutes to take the scoreline to 1-0 and taking his personal tally in the campaign to seven goals.
AlQuds then had chances to equalise with two corner kicks from the left but both attempts ended hitting the woodwork.
KRL dashed any hopes of AlQuds to make a comeback as midfielder Muhammad Adil scored their second goal three minutes into stoppage time to record a 2-0 win over the Palestinian league champions.
Photo: WSG