2nd CNS All Pakistan Hockey Tournament: National Bank Win Final on Shootout
The final of the 2nd Chief of Naval Staff All Pakistan Hockey Tournament at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore presented an exciting duel between country’s top two sides. The 3rd position was won by SNGPL – Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited.
Thrice National Bank went two goals ahead and each time WAPDA reduced the margin to one. Eventually, with just two minutes left WAPDA made it 4-4 to send the match into Shootout. Here again, it ended equal after five shoots had been taken by the each side.
2nd CNS All Pakistan Hockey Tournament: National Bank & WAPDA In Final
Finally, National Bank won the final in the shoot out sudden death.
National Bank made the initial inroads. In 3rd minute, Bilal Qadir squandered a good chance with a poor shot. Four minutes later he made amends by putting his side ahead with a good finish off a fine move. Within two minutes, a banker forward was felled in the WAPDA circle. The resulting penalty stroke was calmly converted by their captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, wrong footing the goal keeper.
WAPDA reduced the margin in the 17th minute. A swift left side move culminated in Ajaz Ahmed flicking the ball in.
But just three minutes later, NBP restored the two goal advantage. A brilliant aerial ball covering more than 50 metres was collected well by Dilber near the WAPDA circle. He then put it past the onrushing WAPDA net minder.
Half Time National Bank: 3, WAPDA: 1
Third quarter saw spectacular hockey at a fast pace. Just two minutes after the restart, an electrifying WAPDA raid rattled the bankers’ defence and Irfan Jr slotted in from a close range to make it 3-2. Pole to pole game ensued. WAPDA, in particular, utilising both the wings, created some good chances but coulndnt get the desired result because of the the rival custodian Mazhar and poor finishing.
National Bank also had a few opportunities. In the 43rd minute, Abubakr made it 4-2 converting his side’s first penalty corner with a perfect high flick.
Early in the last quarter, WAPDA had a penalty stroke of their own. Lanky international Aleem Bilal flicked it to goal keeper’s left and it was 4-3. WAPDA wasted four back to back PCs. When they couldnt make anything out of their seventh PC as well, it seemed all over. National Bank also made a few attacks. One of which saw a fast WAPDA turn over of which Shajeeh scored the equaliser in the 58th minute from a close range.
It ended 4-4 and shootout went out in favour of National Bank in the sudden death phase.
Scorers:
National Bank: Arslan Qadir, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Dilber, Abubakr – 1 Each
WAPDA: Ajaz Ahmed, M. Irfan Jr., Aleem Bilal, Shajeeh – 1 Each
3rd Position Match: SNGPL Upset SSGC 4-1
In the match between two sister ‘Gas’ outfits, the inexperienced Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited with just a couple of junior internationals surprised Sui Southern Gas Company which is a formidable combination of senior and junior internationals. In fact, no one was expecting such a one sided result. SNGPL ran into a four goal lead. SSGC got a consolation goal netted by M.Rizwan Jr.
Scorers:
Sui Northern : M.Farhan, Dawood, Suleman, Faisal Shah – 1 Each
Sui Southern: M.Rizwan Jr. – 1
The chief guest Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat distributed the prizes. The PHF officials and Lt. Arif Aziz were also present in the ceremony.
The prizes of the All Pakistan Hockey Tournament were as follows:
Team Prizes:
- Winners National Bank: Rs. 500,000
- Runners Up WAPDA: Rs. 300,000
- Third: SNGPL: Rs. 200,000
Individual Prizes:
- Player of Tournament: Rashid Mahmood (Navy): Rs 50,000
- Top Scorer: Aleem Bilal (WAPDA): Rs 25,000
- Best Goal Keeper: Rana Umair (SNGPL): Rs 25,000
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