WAPDA and Asia Ghee Mills have moved into the semifinals

Lahore: WAPDA and Asia Ghee Mills have moved into the semifinals of the 10^thNishan-e-Haider Hockey Tournament at the Dring Stadium here on Saturday. In the League Stage WAPDA defeated Flying Horse Club 5-0 in a one-sided match while Asia Ghee Mills and Port Qasim ended the game at 2-2 but on goal average former booked its place in the semis.

WAPDA faced some resistance from the Flying Horse Club comprising local lads who demonstrated guts to press their superior opponents in the second and third quarts. Though their defense was fairly strong with the inclusion of Mohammed Imran, national team captain, and their forwards also made few good moves but they lacked in finishing. Even Imran failed to convert two penalty corners.

From WAPDA Olympian Umar Bhutta scored two field goals in the 13^th and 51^st minutes respectively. International Tasawar Abbas was instrumental in both goals. Zubair Riaz scored a field goal in the 41^st minute. In the 48^th minute Umar Bhutta and Irfan Zubair Riaz launched an attack and in the D area Salman’s flicked the ball into the goal post. Fareed Ahmed deflected the ball on a cross from Imran in the 53^rd minute.

Port Qasim had no option but to win their match against Asia Ghee Mills to book their berth in the semis. They played brilliantly and went all out throughout the match and fought hard to press their opponents. They took lead in the 5^th minute through Rizwan who netted a field goal. Port Qasim were leading by a goal till the end of the first quart. Their forwards displayed brilliant dribbling and passing in the last three quarts but failed to finish their attacks successfully. In the last minutes of the match they even got a penalty corner but could not convert it. Zahid scored a field goal in the 38^th minute. From Asian Ghee Kamran Maqsood and Amir Shahzad scored a field goal each in the 16^th and 28^th minutes respectively. Two matches on Sunday would decide the last two teams to play the semifinals.