WAPDA rob HBL of valuable points

PIA remain top after 5-1 win in hockey championship.

KARACHI: Unbeaten Wapda continued their quest for the National Hockey Championship’s top spot with a comfortable 2-0 win over HBL yesterday. 

The victory strengthened Wapda’s position behind leaders PIA with the former sitting three points behind PIA’s 16 but with a game in hand.

Wapda’s Waseem Ahmed opened the scoring in the 42nd minute courtesy a field goal. Eight minutes later, Aleem Bilal doubled the lead through a penalty-corner to help Wapda secure their fourth win in the competition.

PIA down PHF Academy

PIA also continued their fine form in the event as they registered a thumping 5-1 over PHF Academy after having downed Port Qasim by an identical margin a day earlier.

Kashif Ali was the star of the show as he converted two penalty-corners in the 50th and 70th minute. Yasir Islam, Mohammad Zubair and Ihsanullah were the other goal-scorers with Mohammad Asif Iqbal scoring a consolation goal for PHF Academy.

Shabbir’s double sinks Navy

Meanwhile, Shabbir Ahmed scored a brace to help SSGC overcome Navy 3-2 to record their second victory of the competition.

SSGC went into the lead in the 19th minute through Shabbir’s excellent strike. Navy drew level through Mohammad Umer’s 36th-minute goal before they went into the lead through Mohammad Khalid’s 48th-minute penalty-corner.

However, nine minutes later, Shabbir brought SSGC storming back into the match before Mudassar Abbas scored the decisive goal just a minute before the final whistle to hand his team a thrilling win.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2012.