National Bank of Pakistan beat Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (w) 4-0

LAHORE:  National Bank of Pakistan and Sui Southern Gas Company have cruised into the final of ongoing 35^thNational Junior Hockey Championship at the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday. NBP beat Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa (w) 4-0 in the first and SSGC beat ARMY 2-0 in the second semifinal. Friday (Today) is the rest day. Final will be played on Saturday

Two beautiful field goals by forward Amir Ali (10^th & 49^thminutes) and one goal each by Azfar Yaqoob in the 23^rd minute on penalty corner and a field goal by Mohammed Dilber in the 30^thminute steered NBP into the final.

Though both semifinals remained one sided yet KPK (w) demonstrated brilliant stick-work in the first semifinal against NBP. Experience was the only difference between the two teams which locked horns under floodlight. Playing the semifinal of the National Championship, was itself a matter of great pride and satisfaction for the boys from the Frontiers who earned a place in the semis after beating some best teams in the quarterfinal and pool matches.

Though KPK (w) lost the match but they maintained their aggressive game throughout the match. Even, after trailing by three goals their availed every opportunity that came in their way and made a number of forays into the Bankers’ area. They got three penalty corners and had almost converted one but the ball hit the bar. Their goalkeeper Roman Khan was outstanding throughout the match and saved at least three certain goals. Sohail Janjua and Yasir Khurshid supervised the match.

SSGC players showed their brilliance in the second semifinal against ARMY. Adeel Latif and Rana Sohail made a fine move in the 4^thminute which provided a chance for Sohail who struck a beautiful field goal. ARMY struggled hard to level the score but faced tough resistance from their opponents. Muhammad Rizwan and Zeeshan Bukhari made another move amid excellent short passes and Zeeshan netted a spectacular field goal in the 44^th minute. ARMY didn’t lose hope and showed aggression in the last quart which disturbed their opponents also. In the 51^st minute they got a penalty corner but Waqas Ali’s hard hit banged the bar. Four minutes later ARMY got another chance but this time their Captain Mohammed Imran failed to score. Haroon Rasheed and Abdul Mannan were the field umpires.