January 28, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 27, 1426

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KARACHI, Jan 27: Pakistan Army reached the semifinals after a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over PTCL in the All-Pakistan departmental hockey championship at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Friday.

The match was decided after the two sides were locked at 2-2 after stipulation time with Army coming back from two goals down to equalise in the second half.

After missing through Mohammad Arshad on the first penalty stroke, the soldiers converted through Mohammad Saleem, Mohammad Imran and Waqas Zafar. Inayatullah missed the chance from PTCL, while Arif was the only scorer for the losers.

The game started with a PTCL goal which came through Dilawar penalty corner conversion in the 23rd minute. PTCL increased their lead a minute into second session when Waqas Akbar made no mistake.

The soldiers came from two goals behind to reduce the margin four minutes later when Mohammad Imran converted a stroke.

Army put the game on an even keel just three minutes later after Saleem hammered home the equaliser on a short corner, extending the game to penalty stroke session.

PTCL were reduced to ten players when Rizwanul Haq got temporary suspension in the 60th minute.

In another game which seemed to be heading for a penalty shootout, Waqas Sharif’s last-gasp strike helped Wapda sneak into semis after a narrow 1-0 win over National Bank.

After a barren first half which saw NBP’s Haseem Khan and Mohammad Irfan of Wapda being yellow carded in the 31st minute, it was a penalty corner completed after the final whistle on which Waqas dashed to slot home, saving his side from penalty stroke session. Mohammad Mudassir of Wapda was sent off temporarily in the 46th minute.

PIA also reached last four with a 2-1 triumph against Habib Bank (HBL).

The national airlines were the first to open the scoring when Kamran Ashraf found the target in the seventh minute. PIA were left with 10 players when the former Olympian was ordered off temporarily in the 13th minute.

While HBL were still looking for the equaliser, the national carrier doubled the lead through Mohammad Asim in the 18th minute.

It was only in the 64th minute that the bankers were able to open their account when spearhead Kashif Jawwad found the net which proved merely a consolation.

Pakistan Steel made the semifinal line when they sent PAF packing after airmen crashed to 2-0 defeat.

The winners banged home their opening goal through Mohammad Zubair in the fifth minute. Mohammad Ishtiaq netted the second on a short corner in the 19th minute.

Saturday’s fixtures (semifinals): Army v PIA at 2.00pm; Pakistan Steel v Wapda at 3.30pm.