PIA go top after crushing Port Qasim

A 5-1 victory in national hockey event takes team above WAPDA.

KARACHI: PIA cemented their place at the top of the ranking after a 5-1 thrashing of Port Qasim sealed their fourth win at the National Hockey Championship underway in Karachi.

PIA employed an aggressive strategy right from the start, keeping their hapless opposition under pressure throughout the match. Ihsanullah was in fine form for the winners, converting back-to-back penalty corners in the 24th and 25th minute to hand PIA a 2-0 lead at half-time.

No respite for WAPDA in second-half

Mohammad Irfan extended PIA’s lead in the 40th minute, while Nohaiz Zahid’s strike three minutes later put the match even further beyond Port Qasim’s grasp.

Port Qasim captain Haseem Khan pulled a goal back in the 47th minute but there was more misery in store for Wapda as PIA struck two minutes from time to seal the result.

PIA, unbeaten in the tournament so far, surpassed Wapda on the points’ table but the latter have a game in hand.

Safeer’s brace helps Army overcome SSGC

Meanwhile, Mohammad Safeer’s brace helped Army earn a hard-fought 3-2 win over SSGC.

Army were off to a flying start when Safeer scored the opening goal in the fourth minute of the match before captain Mohamman Imran doubled the lead in the seventh.

However, SSGC came storming back courtesy Abbas Haider, who struck in the 42nd minute before levelling the score in the 61st.

However, there was more drama in store as Safeer scored the winner just four minutes before time to hand Army a thrilling win.

In another match, PAF defeated PHF Academy 2-0.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2012.