KARACHI: History of sorts was created on Monday when former champions PIA crashed out in the quarter-finals of the 34th National Junior Hockey Championship at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium.

The credit goes to Punjab “A” who shocked the airlines 4-3 on penalty strokes after one-all stalemate in the regulation time.

Earlier, defending champions National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) inflicted 4-1 defeat on hosts Sindh to become first team to cruise into the last four.

After emerging pool “D” champions, Punjab “A” gave a tough time to airlines restricting them to one-all draw in the stipulated time.

PIA was the first to open their account through Abu Bakar off penalty corner in the 18th minute.

However, the lead was short lived as Asif Ali scored the equaliser five minutes later.

As the two teams failed to settle the issue in the remaining two quarters of 15-minutes apiece, the match was extended to penalty strokes.

Punjab “A” capitalised four of the five strokes through Mohsin Sabir, M. Asif, Faizan Ali and Mudassir as Asif Ali failed to avail the opportunity.

On the other hand, PIA could only convert through Nohaiz Malik, Owais-ur-Rehman and Rana Sohail. The two players who faltered were Ali Haider and Wasim Akram.

It is pertinent to mention that debutant SSGC had stunned PIA 3-1 in their last league match on Sunday to top pool “B”.

“Punjab “A” had beaten PIA 2-1 in the play-off to seize third position in the last year’s event at the same venue and this time too, they (Punjab A) lived up to their billing,” their coach Babar Abbdullah told Dawn.

In the first quarter, holders NBP inched closer overcoming Sindh 4-1 to join Punjab “A” in the last four. Full back Mubashir Ali slammed two goals, both off penalty corners in 15th and 60th minutes.

Shan Irshad and M. Naveed netted once in the 10th and 43rd minutes. Baraduddin scored the consolation goal for losers in 58th minute.

The remaining two quarter-finals will be played on Tuesday. SSGC takes on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the first at 2.30pm while Wapda will be up against Railways in the second at 4.30pm.

Wednesday is the rest day in the event. The semi-finals are slated for Thursday while curtain falls on the event on Friday with the play-off for third-fourth position and final on card.

Tuesday’s fixtures:

Quarter-finals: SSGC v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 2.30pm; Wapda v Railways at 4.30pm.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

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