KARACHI: Debutant Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) survived a scare before inflicting a solitary goal victory over a fighting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa side and booked themselves a place in the semi-final of the 34th National Junior Hockey Championship at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Tuesday.

The SSGC, who remained restricted goalless in the first three quarters, scored the all-important goal in the 55th minute thanks to M. Zeeshan. They earned no less then seven penalty corners but all went unfruitful.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fought courageously and tried to become second regional team to advance into last four following the footsteps of Punjab “A” who sent former champions PIA packing the other day, but their efforts went in vain. They failed to capitalise at least three chances including a penalty corner during the play.

The SSGC faces defending champions NBP in the first semi-final after the latter carved out a 4-1 victory over Sindh “A” on Monday.

Former champions Wapda, whose winning run was interrupted by the NBP at the same venue last year, carved out a 3-1 victory over Railways to complete semi-final line-up.

Junaid Manzoor forged Wapda ahead by converting team’s first penalty corner in the 13th minute. He doubled the lead by scoring his second goal in the 32nd minute while Mateen completed the rout off penalty corner in the very next minute.

Wapda is slated to face Punjab “A” in the second semi-final on Thursday.

Wednesday is the rest day in the competition while the semi-finals takes place the following day. The final and play-off match for the third-fourth positions will be played on Friday.

Thursday’s fixtures:

Semi-finals: National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) v Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) at 2.30pm; Punjab “A” v Wapda at 4.30pm.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2015

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