Hockey: Port Qasim keep Navy at bay

Haseem scores match-winning brace in hockey championship

KARACHI: Pakistan international Haseem Khan scored a brace to hand Port Qasim a much-needed 2-1 victory over Navy in the National Hockey Championship underway at the Hockey Club of Pakistan, Karachi.

Haseem drew first blood for Port Qasim in the 27th minute and struck again in the 47th minute to help his team notch a rare win in the competition. Navy pulled one back through Sabir in the 66th minute but his effort was not enough to save his team from defeat.

Army outclass PAF

Meanwhile, Army continued their good run in the competition, beating PAF 3-1.

Army put PAF on the defensive as early as the third minute when Shahid Saleem scored the first goal of the match. Zeeshan Dilshad helped PAF draw level but Mohammad Safeer put Army in the lead in the 39th minute with Hassan Arif scoring 10 minutes later to complete the win.

Butt scores in WAPDA win

In the last match of the day, former Pakistan captain Rehan Butt continued his good form, helping Wapda stage a fightback to defeat NBP 2-1.

Mohammad Atiq gave NBP the lead in the 16th minute. However, Butt levelled for Wapda just four minutes later. Aleem Bilal converted a penalty corner in the 53rd minute to put Wapda in the lead, which they maintained till the end of the match.

PIA and Wapda head the table with 10 points, having secured three wins and a draw. NBP are third, while SSGC occupy fourth place.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2012.