WAPDA, NBP, PTCL, Army in National Hockey semis
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: Holders WAPDA, National Bank, PTCL and Pakistan Army entered the semifinals of NBP 52nd National Hockey Championship after contrasting and hard-fought victories at Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium Sunday.

WAPDA beat Habib Bank 3-1 after leading 2-0 at half time. NBP beat PIA 4-3 on extra-time golden goal, PTCL rout Pakistan Steel 5-1 and Pakistan Army got better of Allied Bank of Pakistan 3-2. In the semifinals on Monday NBP will take on PTCL at 1.30 P.M. and Army will clash WAPDA at 3.00 P.M.

WAPDA thanks to a double strike from penalty corner executioner Gohar Rasool and a field goal from Olympian Rehan Butt helped them to drub HBL 3-1.

Kashif Jawwad scored the lone goal for the bankers. Gohar Rasool struck in 13th and 22nd minute when he converted his team’s second and third short corners while Rehan Butt added one minute into the second session also off short corner.

HBL secured three penalty corners but failed to convert any. Kashif reduced the margin when he scored off penalty stroke.

Veteran Olympian Muhammad Nadeem ND put his team into the last eight round of the championship when he scored a field goal four-minute into the extra-time.

The match ended in 3-3 stalemate in the regulation 70-minute time. Four PIA players Aqeel Khan, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Imran Khan and Abu Bakr were sent-off with yellow cards for arguing with umpires.

Spearhead Mahmood Ali put PIA ahead in sixth minute when scored a field Goal. But left winger Akhtar leveled the score in 16th minute before Muhammad Usman again put airlines in front when he scored off a direct penalty corner strike in 19th minute.

A goal one minute from the interval on penalty corner by Imran Ali Warsi helped NBP to par-terms and Haseem Khan gave NBP 3-2 in 49th minute. Imran Khan gave PIA sigh of relief when scored through a field effort to make it 3-3 before Nadeem’s goal settled the issue in extra-time.

PTCL brought Pakistan Steel down on the earth brushing them aside with an impressive and clinical 5-1 success.

Aqeel Hussain starred in PTCL win brace of goals in 27th and 38th Minute. Shakeel Abbasi, Zubair and Ghazanfar Ali scored the other goals for telecommunication side. Shaikh Fayyaz scored the consolation goal for steelmen.

Army maintained their unbeaten run in the championship with an hard-earned 3-2 win. Skipper Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Rasheed and Muhammad Saleem netted one goal each for soldiers. Half back Muhammad Saqlain slammed both the goals.●