25 April 2005	Monday	15 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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LAHORE, April 24: Three goals by Naeem Ahmad helped Wapda outplay star-studded PIA 7-5 on the second day of Punjab Governor’s Cup hockey at the National Hockey Stadium here on Sunday. Naeem drew first blood in the 8th minute. Olympian Mudassar Ali doubled the lead four minutes later. PIA reduced the margin through former Olympian Shafqat Malik in the 18th minute.

But Asif Bilal increased Wapda’s lead two minutes later. Bilal suffered a head injury in the 25th minute while trying to tackle PIA’s Mohammad Usman. Since Punjab Hockey Association, the organizers, did not arrange a doctor, Bilal was taken to a local hospital where he received stitches.

Muhammad Imran managed to reduce the lead 3-2 for PIA in the 29th minute.

After resumption, Wapda netted their fourth goal in the 46th minute when Naeem scored his second. Shafqat again came to PIA’s rescue, scoring his second in the 50th minute to make it 4-3.

But back-to-back goals by Waqas in the 55th and the 57th minute helped Wapda go 6-3 up. Usman made it 6-4 for PIA in the 59th minute. Naeem scored his third in the 65th minute for Wapda while Shafqat got his third in the last minute.

Three goals by Mohammad Azhar guided Navy to a 9-3 victory against Railways.

Azhar scored in the 9th, 30th and 38th minutes, while Jamil Khan (3rd, 60th) and Qaiser Imran (49th, 67th minute) were on target twice. Asif Beg (32nd) and Imran (27th) got one apiece.

Shahbaz Ali (24th), Manzoor-ul-Hasan (51st) and Manzoor Ahmed (60th) chipped in with one goal each for the losers.

ABL defeated PTV 4-0.

Mohammad Sarfraz (8th), Mohammad Sarwar (48th), Qamer Raza (53rd) and Shahzad (58th) struck one goal each.

Monday’s fixtures:

PTCL vs Railways at 2.30pm; Pak Steel vs Punjab 4.30pm.