KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) humbled formidable PIA 3-1 to become group “B” leaders as quarter-final line-up was drawn in the 34th National Junior Hockey Championship at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Sunday.

However, despite the defeat, the airlines made it to the last eight by virtue of finishing second in the pool. Former champions Wapda and Sindh attained first and second slots from pool “C” so did Punjab “A” and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from pool “D”.

Reigning champions National Bank of Pakistan and Railways have already stepped into the quarters by completing their league engagements on Saturday.

Two penalty corner conversions in a span of five minutes in the last quarter enabled SSGC thump PIA and sent shock waves. Zeeshan Bokhari drew blood for the SSGC by converting team’s first penalty corner in the seventh minute. The lead remained intact until 40th minute when Owais-ur-Rehman, who had the honour of scoring double hat-trick against Punjab “B”, brought the teams on even terms.

Zubair forged SSGA ahead (2-1) in the 50th minute while Mohammad Rizwan completed the rout in 55th minute.

Earlier, the quartet of Junaid Manzoor, Shahbaz, Bilal Mahmood and Hamza Sajjad shared eight goals amongst themselves as Wapda outplayed Gilgit-Baltistan 9-0. Mateen scored once.

In another match, Punjab “A” trounced Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 4-2 to register second win in the group. M. Ahad (PC), Mudassir, Asif Ali and M. Asif netted a goal apiece for winners while Fahad and Samiullah (PC) scored once for losers.

Hosts Sindh brushed aside Pak Board 2-1 to seize a place in quarter-finals. Obaidullah and Anas Siddiqui scored one goal apiece for winners in 17th and 55th minutes after M. Murtaza had opened the account for Pak Board in the 15th minute.

Monday’s fixtures:

Quarter-finals: National Bank of Pakistan v Sindh at 3pm; Punjab “A” v PIA at 5pm.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2015

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