21 January 2004	Wednesday	28 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 20: Punjab Colours scored in each half to reach the last eight stage after a 2-0 victory over Sindh Whites in the Under-20 national hockey championship on a rainy Tuesday.

Apart from Punjab Colours, PTCL, Railways, NBP, Balochistan Colours, POF, Pakistan Army and KESC, have also qualified for the quarterfinals to be played on Thursday.

Irshad found the target for Punjab Colours in the seventh minute of the game off a penalty corner. S. Imran doubled the lead with a goal in the 42nd minute to help his side move ahead at UBL Sports Complex.

Owais Khan's 66th minute match-winner and three goals by Imran Warsi gave NBP a close 4-3 triumph over POF. The bankers started off with two Imran goals in the 4th and 7th minutes, while POF reduced the margin through Rana Afzal three minutes later and put the game on an even keel with Niaz scoring a minute before the halftime.

POF fought back to go 3-2 up with Rashid slamming home off a short corner two minutes into second half. Imran poached his third with another penalty corner in the 62nd minute before Owais banged home the winner four minutes later.

Sindh Colours were ousted after an emphatic 8-0 defeat by Pakistan Army amid slight drizzle at Hockey Club of Pakistan. The local side lost the battle after Balochistan Colours advanced into quarterfinals on better goal average as both teams finished with five points each.

Army surged to a 3-0 lead with Munir Ahmad scoring the first goal in the fifth minute, Khalid Mahmood making it 2-0 and Abdul Ghafoor netting the third in the 34th minute.

Qazi Iqbal raided Sindh Colours' half to score twice in the 43rd and 48th minutes before Ghafoor slotted home for the second time in the 55th minute. Khalid struck in the 57th minute and Iqbal wrapped up the proceedings a minute before the end.

Railways overcame Punjab Blues 2-1. Zeeshan Ikram grabbed the opening goal for Railways in the 16th minute which was followed by Mohammad Bilal goal in the 44th minute.

Punjab Blues got the consolation through Moeen Azam in the 51st minute. KESC outplayed Balochistan Whites 3-1. Noman Zakir opened the scoring in the 10th minute, Imran Khan doubled the ascendancy in the 55th minute and Mudassir Abbas completed the tally in the 64th minute.

PTCL registered a comfortable 5-1 win over NWFP Colours, Arif scoring twice in the 10th and 16th minutes. Ihsanullah netted the consolation goal for NWFP Colours in the 20th minute.

PTCL completed the rout through Ishtiaque (31st minute), Arif (64th minute) and Suboor (68th minute). NWFP Whites defeated Sindh Blues 3-1, while Punjab Whites crushed Pakistan Education Board 10-0. Quarterfinals will be played on Thursday after Wednesday's rest.

Wednesday's fixtures (quarterfinals):

PTCL v Railways at 9:00am at HCP; NBP v Balochistan Colours at 11:00am at HCP; POF v Army at 1:30pm at HCP; KESC v Punjab Colours at 3:30pm.

Final pool standings

(Tabulated under played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Pool 'A'



PTCL             4    4   0  0  38  2  12



Punjab Colours   4    3   0  1  14  5   9



NWFP Colours     4    2   0  2  17  8   6



Sindh Whites     4    1   0  3   5 17   3



Northern Area    4    0   0  4  44  2   0



Pool 'B'



KESC             4   4   0  0   20  3  12



Railways         4   3   0  1   18  6   9



Balochistan Whites  4  1  1  2  4  9    4



Punjab Blues        4  1  1  2 11  6    1



Islamabad           4  0  0  4  3 34    0



Pool 'C'



NBP                4  4  0  0  42  5   12



POF                4  3  0  1  44  4    9



AJ&K               4  2  0  2  10 35    6



NWFP Whites        4  1  0  3   4 24    3



Sindh Blues        4  0  0  4   3 35    0



Pool 'D'



Army                4  4  0  0  31  1   12



Balochistan Colours 4  1  2  1  17 11    5



Punjab Whites       4  1  2  1  16 12    5



Sindh Colours       4  1  2  1   7 14    5



PEB                 4  0  0  4   6 39    0