June 13, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 27, 1428

KARACHI, June 12: Sarfaraz Ahmad’s second half winner helped Steel Mills sneak into President’s Gold Cup hockey quarter-finals with a shock 2-1 victory over a disjointed National Bank (NBP) at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Tuesday.

While the winners became Pool ‘A’ champions, the bankers also reached last-eight stage as Sindh have already crashed out of the tournament, having lost both their pool matches.

The bankers, who captured the national title in March, were as unimpressive as they were against Sindh in their first match which they won 5-1. NBP paid dearly for their slackness as Steel Mills gave a wake-up call with opening goal through Kashif Ali on a penalty corner in the fourth minute.

Having veterans such as Pakistan vice-captain Zeeshan Ashraf, forwards Akhtar Ali, Tariq Aziz, half-back Adnan Maqsood, and discarded forward Adnan Zakir, the bankers could not equalise until 32nd minute.

The bankers heaved a sigh of relief as it was the only penalty corner out of 10 that was converted by the bankers through Mohammad Ateeq.

But bankers were responsible for the miseries that came after the lemon break as they squandered several chances on short corners while the penalty corner specialist Imran Warsi watched his team-mates from the stands.

According to NBP team manager Rahman Khan, Imran has been suffering from a shoulder injury. “He (Imran) has told that he is having some problem with his shoulder which is why he didn’t play today and we suffered a lot.”

Imran’s lack of physical fitness has also put a question mark over his availability for the forthcoming national training camp for a tour to Russia next month.

It was not only the bankers who were finding it difficult to score on short corner in Imran’s absence, Steel Mills goalkeeper Farhan Asif was also vigilant under the bar as he made some fine saves.

As the bankers were sorely missing their short corner striker, they were taken aback when Sarfaraz’s opportunist strike from the right saw the scoreboard move in Steel Mills favour 12 minutes into second session.

NBP came close to equalise on an indirect try by Tariq in the 56th minute only to be denied by Farhan. At the other end, the winners wasted an opportunity when Ishtiaq Ahmad’s hit across the goal crossed the back-line as his team-mates failed to connect.

Steel Mills were reduced to 10 players in the 60th minute when Mohammad Imran was yellow-carded for rough play yet the bankers failed to take advantage of the situation.

Pakistan Navy reached quarter-finals from pool ‘C’ after a thumping 9-2 win over hapless KESC who crashed out of the tournament.

The sailors opened the scoring through a Mushtaq Ahmad goal in the second minute before Mohammad Imran slammed home in the 12th minute. Navy led 4-0 as Mohammad Usman was on target in the 17th minute, while Mushtaq netted his fourth two minutes later.

Rizwanul Hassan added two quick goals in the 47th and 49th minute before KESC reduced the margin through Rizwanul Haq in the 55th minute.

Navy were 7-1 up when Usman got his double in the 60th minute, while KESC got their second and last goal through Iftikhar.

The sailors wrapped up the proceedings with goals by Imran (67th minute) and Mohammad Noman (69th minute).

Wednesday’s fixtures:

Wapda v PQA at 3.00pm, Habib Bank v SSGC at 5.00pm.