March 31, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1428

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KARACHI, March 30: Wapda reached the national hockey championship final after a nerve-wracking sudden-death penalty shootout victory over SSGC in an ill-tempered semi-final at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Friday.

In Saturday’s final Wapda meet National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), who hammered Steel Mills 6-1 in the first semi-final thanks to a brace of goals each by Akhtar Ali and Naeem Akbar.

Shakeel Abbasi was SSGC’s culprit as he sent the ball wide off target in the sudden-death penalty shootout session. The penalty stroke session was as exciting as was the sudden-death shootout as both sides were deadlocked at 4-4.

While Wapda had golden opportunity to move ahead after Ishtiaq Mobeen missed the chance with a sluggish push that was easily saved by Wapda’s goalkeeper Shakir Munir, Rehan Butt wasted the stroke by sending the ball well outside, making it 4-4 and extending the game into sudden-death penalty shootout.

While the stipulated 70-minute play, which ended on a 3-3 stalemate, was thrilling it was marred by Wapda’s protest two minutes before time.

The game remained stopped for almost 12 minutes when SSGC equalised through a Sohail Abbas penalty corner conversion. Wapda’s players left the field, while their manager Wahid Mirza came off the bench to field jury, claiming that umpire Munawwar didn’t signal before allowing the penalty corner.

“There was a time out and we were defending the penalty corner. According to rules, umpire should have allowed our defenders to line-up before whistle. He should have signalled also but he didn’t. That’s not acceptable,” the Wapda manager told Dawn.

Munawwar, however, contradicted Wahid’s claims, saying he had allowed SSGC to take the short corner after Wapda informed they were ready to defend.

Nevertheless, an unauthorised person, Olympian Farhat Khan, who has a history of indiscipline including abusing umpires during play, entered the pitch during the episode and remained busy in talking to Wapda officials and players for some 10 minutes.

“We came into the field after PHF president Zafarullah Jamali sent the message to us to play,” the Wapda manager said.

Wapda dominated the initial proceedings as they unnerved SSGC penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas with at least two gallant dashes. While nip and firepower was missing within SSGC ranks, it was Wapda who were on the attack from beginning.

Although SSGC defenders kept Zubair at bay in the 19th minute, they were stunned when Wapda hammered home twice within 60 seconds, Rehan opening the score by connecting well a perfect Waqas Sharif cross in the 24th minute.

The very next minute Wapda’s Mohammad Shabbir again tormented SSGC but found goalkeeper Salman Akbar vigilant. Wapda knocked the life out of disjointed SSGC when Majid Khan’s push found the net off Salman’s shoulder in the 25th minute.

Two goals within a minute gave Wapda a new vigour as they kept on terrorising SSGC defences with their weaving runs, keeping the ball in possession most of the remaining first half. The only serious effort from SSGC came through Shabbir Ahmad which was saved by Wapda goalkeeper Shakir.

Coming after break with a two-goal cushion, Wapda were up against the losers with full force. Their onslaughts bore fruit just five minutes into second session when Zakirullah’s inch-perfect pass was timely deflected by Zubair.

SSGC eventually woke up from deep slumber the next minute when they reduced the margin through Saleem Khalid. Now making deep incursions, SSGC made it 3-2 when Shakeel had his name on to score sheet with an opportunist reverse hit in the 47th minute.

Sohail was finally on target with a high push to put the game on an even keel just two minutes before fulltime.

Wapda finally won on sudden-death shootout as both sides failed to score during extra time and finished penalty stroke session at 4-4.

NBP opened their account through Akhtar in the 20th minute, while Mohammad Anis doubled the lead five minutes later. Imran Warsi found the cage a minute before interval and Naeem slotted home his first in the 47th minute.

Steel Mills got the consolation through Kashif Ali in the 54th minute. Naeem completed his double in the 61st minute before Akhtar wrapped up with a 67th-minute strike.