Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Cebu: Forward Kaleemullah scored the opener and four second-half goals as Pakistan champions KRL (Khan Research Laboratories) too advantage of Pema’s red card to hammer Yeedzin 8-0 and book their place in the 2013 AFC President’s Cup finals.
Tariq Lutfi’s side had put themselves in a strong position to claim one of the two available tickets with a 2-0 win over debutants Global two days ago and a 1-1 draw with six-time AFC President’s Cup finalists Dordoi in their Group B opener and made the perfect start to their match with Yeedzin as Kaleemullah put them one up from the penalty spot with just four minutes at the Cebu City Sports Centre played.
But the floodgates remained shut in the early exchanges and Yeedzin held out until the 37th minute when KRL went 2-0 up through Abid Khan before two goals in quick succession from Zia-Us-Salam (44th) and Saadullah (45th) gave the Pakistanis a commanding lead to take into the interval.
Yeedzin replaced goalkeeper Tashi Jamtsho with Tshering Dendup and the substitute stopper held out until the 71st minute when Kaleemullah got his second as KRL quickly made the most of their extra-man advantage following the sending off of defender Pema three minutes earlier.
Kaleemullah, who scored both goals on his AFC President’s Cup debut as KRL defeated Cambodia’s Nagacorp 2-1 in the Group Stage of the 2010 edition, got his hat-trick in the 75th minute and his fourth in the 83rd minute before completing the rout one minute into second-half stoppage time as KRL booked their place in the finals for the second successive tournament.