KARACHI: Two-goal M. Sabir guided Navy carve out 3-1 victory over Police to stay in contention for a place in knock out quarter-finals of the 62nd National Hockey Championship at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Thursday.

Sabir struck twice, both off penalty corners, in the 16th and 53rd minutes as sailors post second victory in three games. Earlier, Sultan Amir gave sailors the early lead by converting first PC in the first minute.

Waqas Umar scored the consolation goal for policemen during a melee in the 44th minute.

The sailors enjoyed an upper hand during the play that yielded half a dozen PC’s which produced fifty percent results.

The sailors play their last league fixture against PAF on Sunday that will decide as to which team will join the National Bank in the last eight.

The PAF had won both their games and the remaining two against the NBP and the Navy are crucial for them.

In an earlier pool A match, Railways held Higher Education Commission (HEC) to a two-all draw

M. Abid put HEC in front by converting team’s first PC in the second minute while Ashar Tariq made it 2-0 in the 14th minute.

Railways retaliated after conceding twice and succeeded to capitalise second and fourth PC’s in the 25th and 45th minutes through Mohsin Javed and M. Usman respectively.

In the pool B match, Wapda sent Steel Mills packing 6-1 to live up to their billing.

M. Usman scored two goals and followed by Aleem Bilal, Umer Bhutta, Rana Umair and Fareed Ahmed one each, for winners. Naseer reduced the deficit for losers.

Friday’s fixtures:

HEC v Sindh at 1.30pm; PIA v PQA at 3.30pm.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2016