PIA beat NBP; Army play 1-1 draw against NBP in Gold Cup Hockey

By AM Khan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) scored a narrow 2-1 win over National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Pakistan Army played a 1-1 draw against Customs in the Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the outer ground of the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

The national air career led the first half 2-1 while the second half failed to produce even a single goal which narrated the saga of missed chances and long term ball possession on part of both the sides.

PIA shot into lead with the fifth minute goal scored by Inyat Ullah in mid field move. PIA beaming with stars accelerated the pace of attacks and deployed full force to hunt more goals.

Ammad Shakeel Butt scored their second in the 27th minute before Bankers equalised at 1-1 after receiving 21st minute goals from Arslan Qadir in a lovely mid field move aided by right and left wings.

Both the teams did everything except scoring in the coming half and long time balls possession mostly confined the game to mid field.

Customs and Army played a goalless first half and the real action of the game was seen in the second half. Both the teams made desperate productive efforts to score and Customs stamped their supremacy with the 52nd minute penalty corner goal scored by Mushtaq. Army salvaged their pride three minute before the close of the when Safeer equalized off a short corner.

Friday is the rest day while Army will take on NBP and Wapda will play against Customs on Saturday.

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Wapda, Customs win in NBP Gold Cup Hockey Tournament

By AM Khan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) December 5, 2012: Pakistan Customs caught the star-studded PIA by surprise with a 2-1 victory while Wapda outplayed Sui Southeran Gas Company 4-2 in the NBP Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the outer ground of the National Hockey Stadium Wednesday.

It was an unexpected win on part of Customs against the national air career boys and the winners struck a brilliant show of skillful hockey and technique. Customs led the first half 1-0 at break after receiving 28th minute field goal from their captain Rizwan Khan.

PIA came in patches but failed to make a productive impression on their opponents who were far ahead in attacks launched by their mid field with the aid of their both right and left flanks.

Customs appeared in total control when Amir Ali scored the 52nd minute field goal for the much disappointment of Airlines.

Airlines gained some relief when Kashif Ali translated the 58th minute short corner with a calculated shot. Wapda and SSGC played a 1-1 draw at half time.

Wapda jolted SSGC with the addition of a goal in the very first minute through Shahbaz Ali as SSGC leveled one minutes before the end of the first after receiving a goal from Zeeshan. Wapda played the second half with splerndid display of artistic hockey hammering three more goals to leave their opponents in deep gloom.

Salman Hussain scored the 40th minute goal as Sohail Abbas contributed a penalty corner goal in the 62ndminute and Mohammad Suleman added 69th minute field goal before Sohail Manzoor supported SSGC with a penalty corner goal.

Today’s matches: Army vs Customs and NBP vs PIA.

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