June 14, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 28, 1428

KARACHI, June 13: Habib Bank (HBL) stormed into the President’s Gold Cup hockey quarter-finals after they overwhelmed the star-studded SSGC 3-1 at the Hockey Club of Pakistan on Wednesday.

Although the bankers scored an upset victory, SSGC also managed to qualify for the last eight from pool ‘B’ as Pakistan Air Force have crashed out of the tournament having lost their two pool matches.

Mohammad Khalid opened the scoring in the second minute to take shock 1-0 lead for HBL.

Having key Pakistan players and former penalty corner exponent Sohail Abbas in their ranks, SSGC looked like a disjointed lot from the first whistle. While they were finding it hard to open the scoring, their miseries were compounded when Abbas Haider was yellow-carded for a foul in the 21st time.

Hoping to break the ice the next minute, SSGC missed the chance when Sohail, who is being advocated by few experts including chief selector Khawaja Zakauddin for a recall to Pakistan ranks, squandered with a low push.

The bankers, who were making dangerous inroads now, would have scored had Azlan Khan not fumbled in the circle after a Shahzad Nasir pass in the 30th minute. Adeel Hussain then fumbled and wasted the opportunity despite having ample time and space.

HBL continued making forays into SSGC territory but Mohammad Khalid failed to connect eight minutes into second half. Since Sohail had failed on earlier penalty corner, SSGC opted for an indirect without involving the short corner striker but again failed.

SSGC, having discarded Pakistan centre-forward Shakeel Abbasi, current forward Shabbir Ahmad, Sajjad Anwar, and Pakistan junior players, heaved a sigh of relief when Mudassir Abbas eventually equalised when he rounded HBL goalkeeper Ejaz Khokhar in the 47th minute.

But that proved to be last joy for the losers as they soon ran out of steam as the bankers terrorised them with more attacks which resulted in two goals.

Sohail, who has been debarred by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for ditching Pakistan when recalled for the Doha Asian Games last year while preferring to play foreign league, was frustrated when Ejaz produced a stupendous save with a spectacular dive in the 55th minute.

HBL knocked the life out of SSGC in the 57th minute as they again went 2-1 up with Rashid Imran connecting a right side pass that went straight into the goal past Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar.

The losers made a rare attempt six minutes later but Abbas was kept at bay by Ejaz with a fine save.

HBL might have extended the lead but Azlan’s delayed and half-hearted attempt could not find the target as Salman thwarted the weak 62nd-minute attack.While SSGC were still licking their wounds, goal number three from Shahbaz Ahmad took the wind out of SSGC sails.

Interestingly, SSGC’s managing director Mnawar Baseer is also Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) president which is organising the tournament on behalf on PHF.

Iftikhar Alam’s equaliser helped Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to reach quarter-finals after a 3-3 draw with Wapda.

Wapda started with a Mohammad Irfan goal in the 15th minute and doubled the lead through Rehan Butt two minutes before halftime.

PQA reduced the margin in the 57th minute when Owais Khan found the target, and then equalised with a Kashif Jawwad strike in the 66th minute.

Wapda again moved ahead the next minute with a Mohammad Arif goal before Iftikhar banged home the equaliser.

Thursday’s fixtures:

Quarter-finals: Steel Mills v Pakistan Navy at 9.00am; NBP v PIA at 11.00am; Wapda v SSGC at 2.45pm; HBL v PQA at 4.45pm.