PTCL topples NBP to set up title clash with WAPDA
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: An inspired PTCL toppled fancied National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) 4-3 to set-up title clash with WAPDA in the NBP 52nd National Hockey Championship departmental rounds at Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium Monday.

Defending Champion WAPDA in the second semifinal ended Pakistan Army’s superb run in the championship with a 3-1 success.

Youthful forward Zakirullah starred in WAPDA’s with a pair of field-goals while Olympian Shabbir Hussain scored the other goal winner. Muhammad Rashid scored the lone goal for soldiers. The match was locked 1-1 at the half time.

After WAPDA missed their first two penalty corners in third and fourth minute, Zakirullah put WAPDA infront in 8th minute with a lovely field effort.

Army boys came back with vengeance and 14th-minute saw Muhammad Rashid producing an equalizer.

Olympian Rehan Butt, who is on leading scorer’s list, having two hat-tricks to his credit, failed to score against Army.

WAPDA scored their second goal soon after resumption when Shabbir Hussain overcome his missing habit, to net his team’s second goal.

Swift dribbler Zakirullah kept Army under pressure by generating inroads. He sealed the fate of the match by banging in the field goal four minute from time.

The final will push-off at 3.00 pm on Tuesday. New PHF Chief Tariq Kirmani will be the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.

Earlier in the first semifinal, PTCL having Olympians goalie Salman Akber, half-back Ghazanfar Ali and Shakeel Abbasi in their line-up, demonstrated lovely opportunism to down NBP after thrilling encounter.

Forward Aqeel Hussain was livewire in PTCL attacks which disturbed their mid-field and deep defence.

Olympian Shakeel Abbasi, Ghazanfar Ali, Aqeel Hussain, and Inyatullah scored the goals for telecommunication side. Skipper Muhammad Nadeem ND, Muhammad Anis and Imran Ali Warsi scored the goals for NBP.

PTCL forced their first penalty corner in the third minute but Ghazanfar’s wild scoop went wide of the target.

However when bankers got their first short corner Shakeel Abbasi brought-off a brilliant save by stopping the ball on the goal-line off Imran Warsi’s flick.

Aqeel Hussain got the opportunity to NBP in front in 17th minute. But he missed the target from close range.

However Olympian Adnan Maqsood was guilty of missing a sitter in 21st minute when after dodging a couple of defenders he straight hit the ball on Salman Akber’s pads.

PTCL efforts were finally rewarded in 23rd minute when Shakeel Abbasi tapped a lovely top circle cross from Aqeel Hussain into the goal which gave bank custodian Shabbir Hussain no chance.

NBP hit-back quickly when veteran forward Muhammad Nadeem capitalised a long pass and neatly deflected into the net in 28th minute to make 1-1.

Interestingly in a fierce display two more goals were scored in a space of five minutes.

Before NBP could settle down after making it one-one, Ghazanfar Ali blasted his team’s team’s second corner to again give PTCL 4-3 lead.

NBP got a sigh of relief when centre-forward Muhammad Anis scored through a field goal minute before the breather.

PTCL gain control of the semifinal when they slammed two goals in space of five minute midway through the second session.

Aqeel’s run of play was finally rewarded when scored off penalty corner in 47th minute and subsitute Inayatullah made it 4-2 with a field goal in 51st minute to put NBP under pressure. After missing three penalty corners Imran Warsi made it 4-3 by scoring in 63rd minute.

NBP got golden opportunity to draw level, but Warsi failed to do any trick on his team’s fifth penalty corner in 70th minute.●