March 26, 2007	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1428

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KARACHI, March 25: Two-goal Uzair Ahmad helped Karachi reach last-eight round of the national hockey championship with an upset 3-2 win over Pakistan Navy, while NBP also sneaked into quarter-finals after an identical victory against PIA on Sunday.

Navy, who lost to SSGC 4-1 in their first match, were shocked when the local outfit went ahead as Uzair found the cage in the 22nd minute at UBL Sports Complex.

While the sailors were still recovering from the first jolt, Karachi knocked the life out of Navy with their second as Uzair had his name on to score sheet for the second time six minutes after the break.

Navy virtually sunk in the 55th minute as Karachi slotted home their third through a Rizwan’s penalty corner conversion in the 55th minute.

The sailors fought back to reduce the margin with a Mohammad Usman goal in the 61st minute. Usman found the cage just five minutes later, this time off a short corner, but Navy failed to equalise as Karachi walked away victors.

In a match at Hockey Club of Pakistan that saw three yellow cards in all, two-goal Mohammad Anis guided bankers to a close triumph over national carriers.

The bankers got off to a fine start with an Anis goal in the 14th minute. Both sides changed ends frequently throughout the first half but failed despite coming near scoring several times.

PIA finally levelled through an opportunist strike by promising but discarded Pakistan forward Yasir Islam who swept home a pass from the right side three minutes into second half.

PIA, the defending champions, came close but wasted a golden chance when former international Shafqat Malik fumbled near goalmouth despite having ample time and space.

On the other end, the bankers also wasted a chance when Anis couldn’t connect a blistering cross from left in the 45th minute, while an effort from the top of the circle by PIA’s Mahmood Ali missed the target. Shafqat once again was villain just a minute later when his deflection also missed the goal.

Despite being in a perfect position to extend the lead in the 55th minute the bankers were left high and dry as Anis failed in connecting an Asim Khan cross.

Tariq Aziz of NBP, who was suspended by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for six months last year for hitting a player during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, was yellow carded along with PIA’s Mohammad Usman for rough play in the 61st minute.

But the real trouble for PIA arrived two minutes later when they were reduced to nine players following a yellow card by umpire Mohammad Asif to Yasir for rough play.

NBP finally went 2-1 up when Akhtar Ali’s effort rebounded off PIA goalkeeper Nasir Ahmad and former Pakistan striker Mohammad Nadeem finished off the job in the 65th minute.

A late charge by the bankers saw them go 3-1 ahead as Anis this time made no mistake in banging home for his double in the 68th minute.

PIA woke up when they reduced the margin through a short corner conversion by Ihsanullah a minute before final hooter. But it was too little and too late and NBP moved ahead with a narrow victory.

Shabbir Ahmad struck thrice to help SSGC make it last eight after a facile 8-0 win over minnows Rawalpindi.

Shabbir was on target in the 47th, 49th and 62nd, while Saleem Khalid (5th minute), Shakeel Abbasi (19th minute), Samiullah (53rd minute), Abbas Haider (55th minute), and Wasif Raza (68th minute).

Monday’s fixtures: Abbottabad v Hyderabad at HCP at 10:00am; Steel Mills v Quetta at HCP at 12:00pm; Wapda v Sargodha at HCP at 2:00pm; Army v HBL at 4:00pm.