June 18, 2007	Monday	Jumadi-us-Sani 02, 1428

KARACHI, June 17: Zakirullah produced two rapid-fire second half goals to help Wapda snatch the President’s Gold Cup hockey crown with a stormy 5-1 victory over Steel Mills at the Hockey Club of Pakistan on Sunday.

The winners were in control from the start and jolted Steel Mills with an eighth-minute goal through Mohammad Khalid’s penalty corner conversion off the woodwork.

Not content with the opening goal, Wapda continuously made dangerous inroads into the Steel Mills’ territory but missed the target. First Khalid’s full-blooded effort hit the side-netting, and then a hit across the goal from Mohammad Muddasir could not be connected by Wapda attackers.

Wapda’s Mohammad Arif slammed the backboard, but was disallowed as he scored just outside from the semi-circle in the 24th minute. Steel Mills could have equalised on a short corner two minutes later but Wapda were rescued by their goalkeeper Shakir Munir with a fine save.

Wapda skipper Rehan Butt’s long pass was well received by Zakir whose brilliant cross was wasted as Arif fumbled in front of Steel Mills goalkeeper Farhan Asif, although the defence was beaten eight minutes into the second period.

Wapda eventually got what they were looking for quite a long time when Waqas Sharif slotted home in the 49th minute on an excellent move from near the 25-yard line.

Steel Mills, enjoying the support of a small but partisan crowd, squandered a promising opening two minutes later when Sarfaraz Ahmad’s blistering cross across the goal went untouched.

Promising penalty corner striker Kashif Ali finally reduced the margin for the losers with an along-the-carpet push that rolled past Shakir and defenders.

Undeterred, Wapda confronted their opposition with yet more attacking hockey which saw Mohammad Muddasir sending a slow but rather weak pass to Rehan who tried to score but was denied by Farhan as the goalkeeper took the hit on his pads.

Although now Steel Mills were putting pressure on Wapda by forcing no less than three short corners within a space of four minutes, they couldn’t score further. Kashif sent a lightning push in the 63rd-minute penalty corner which was timely tipped over the bar by Shakir.

Wapda knocked all the fight out of the battling Steel Mills who were soon flattened by three quick strikes that came within four minutes.

Former Pakistan captain Waseem Ahmad converted a stroke in the 64th minute which was awarded to Wapda after a serious infringement by Steel Mills defenders during a goalmouth melee.

Now 0-3 down, Steel Mills looked terrorised as Wapda tore their defences apart with regular mazy runs that resulted in two more goals.

A 65th-minute move generated in the Steel Mills half ended on a calculated and well-timed minus pass from Arif which was given a finishing touch by an onrushing Zakir.

Zakir then cashed in on slapdash work by the Steel Mills defenders to score his double and complete the tally in style two minutes before fulltime.

Earlier in the day, a Mahmood Ali golden goal helped PIA settle for the third place after they edged past Habib Bank 2-1 in the playoff fixture.

Inamur Rahman opened the scoring for the national carrier in the 17th minute before the bankers equalised through Shahzad Nasir in the 41st minute. PIA were reduced to 10 players when Inayatullah was yellow-carded in the 45th minute.

Mahmood finally scored in the 14th minute of the extra time to settle the match.