Zaitoon National Hockey,PIA and NBP Emerge Victorious in Semi Finals

The Governer Punjab Mr Rafique Rajwana would be the Chief Guest at Wednesday’s final between PIA and National Bank. Match starts at 2:00 PM

The two teams with loads of experience provided an excellent spectacle especially in the second half

The fiercely  contested first half saw tempers flaying. The umpires had a tough time and cards were flashed including three yellow (each for five minutes suspension).

The half ended 1-1 though WAPDA had more of the play and chances. PIA’s goal came off a penalty corner variation in the 6th minute, Zubair standing close to the right pole easily put the ball in. The WAPDA equaliser arrived in the 18th minute. A well measured ball from Ejaz into the circle was first timed by Rana Umair into the board.WAPDA were off to a flying start in the second half. Ejaz had a brace within the initial five minutes. After a captivating passing move, Ejaz hooked the ball into the net standing close to the goal. A little later, he collected a long aerial pass and his hit found the target via net minder Imran Butt’s pads; soft goal.Two goals down, the airlines made a remarkable recovery, scoring three goals in a five minute spell. In the 38th minute, a PIA raid saw their forward felled badly in the circle. Penalty stroke was right awarded. Kashif Ali beat the goal keeper with a flat and fast push in the right corner. Next minute, it was 3-3. Shafqat Rasool in a beautiful horizontal run from the left side eliminated two defenders before shooting the ball into the net. In the 43rd minute, another penalty stroke was availed by Kashif Ali in an identical manner as the previous one; PIA were 4-3 ahead.More drama was left in this sensational quarter. WAPDA raided the PIA circle, Asad Shabbir’s reverse hit was padded by the custodian and veteran Waseem netted off the rebound.At 4-4, it was all to play for in the last 15 minutes. WAPDA applied early pressure with repeated inroads into the circle. Yet, PIA went ahead via their fourth PC. The power behind Kashif Ali’s flat push carried the ball over the goal line off the goal keeper’s pads. In the 54th minute, PIA doubled the advantage. A minus from a right flank foray was superbly thundered into the cage by Shafqat Rasool with a tomahawk.

In the last five minutes, WAPDA went all out in attack and made frequent circle penetrations without being threatening.

Match’s chief guest legendary batsman  Zaheer Abbas must be a pleased man as he played for PIA’s cricket team  for a number of years.

SCORERS:

PIA: Kashif Ali 3 (38′, 43′ 53′) Shafqat Rasool 2 (39′, 54′) Zubair (7′)

WAPDA: Ejaz 2 (32′, 34′) Rana Umair (18′) Waseem (45′)

This semi final also provided flowing hockey most of the time.

MNA Hanif Abbasi was the chief guest.

After a cagey first five minutes, a swift move initiated by Atiq was well finished by Dilber and the NBP were in front. The bank continued to have the better of exchanges in the first quarter.

But the gasmen were certainly the more dominating side during the next quarter with phases of ascendancy. They couldnt make out of any of the four penalty corners, though once Abbas Haider’s push came off the pole.

So NBP carried the slender lead into the second half.SSGS’s promising teenager Adeel, after a mesmerising dribbling run saw his try on the goal saved by the custodian. But in the 35th minute the bankers doubled the lead. They raided from right flank. The initial attempt was padded away by the goal keeper. Ammad Butt pounced on the rebound to make it 2-0.

NBP with a number of players from Pakistan’s under 21 squad were well in control for the remainder of the time without increasing their account.

SCORERS: National Bank: Dilber (6′) Ammad Butt (35′).Interestingly, the two finalists, PIA and the National Bank, were locked in a 3-3 draw in their pool match. Moreover, both had finished equal on points  and with the same goal difference.

Hence, it should be an exciting final .