KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) conjured up solitary goal victories over National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Army, respectively on the penultimate day, Saturday, to set a repeat final.

However, some players received minor injuries when a free-for-all broke out soon after the first semi-final played between PIA and NBP that left a bad taste in mouth.

Rana Sohail scored the all-important goal for the airlines in the 15th minute, moments before the end of first quarter and maintained it till the final hooter.

The reigning champions, who have beaten NBP 7-6 on penalty strokes shootout sudden death semi-final last year, squandered two penalty corners in the third and 16th minutes.

On paper, the bankers looked superior outfit and retaliated but lack of proper finish eluded them from scoring equaliser. In the process, they earned four penalty corners in the fourth, 42nd, 42nd and 51st minutes but to no avail.

PIA’s Amir Shahzad, Yasir Islam and Atif Mushtaq were given marching orders by umpire who showed them yellow cards in the 48th, 55th and 60th minutes, respectively. Yasir was also shown green card in the 25th minute besides one each to Shafqat Rasool and captain M. Irfan.

Arsalan Qadir of the NBP was also shown a green card.

When the PIA players approached their opponents to shake hands after the triumph, inside left Akhtar Ali got infuriated and attacked Amir Shahzad with his stick that ensued free-for-all.

However, organisers intervened and calmed down the situation.

The PHF president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar was in attendance along with Collector of Customs (preventive) S. M. Tariq Huda when the incident occurred.

Manager of PIA hockey team ex-Olympian Shahid Ali Khan has condemned the incident and demanded stern action against those found guilty.

“The PIA-NBP rivalry is not new in the field of hockey. Our five to six players were suspended after we’ve lost the final to NBP in 2014,” the PIA official told Dawn.

Assistant coach of the NBP hockey team Arif Bhopali has also deplored the incident.

“It’s awkward because it happened after the match and between the two top departmental teams of the country,” he told Dawn when asked for comments.

He said Akhtar got one of his hand fractured after being hit by fast rushing ball during the play.

Meanwhile, in a late development, the tournament committee suspended Akhtar Ali for three months and issued a warning letter to PIA.

In the other semi-final, Wapda struggled to beat last year’s losing semi-finalists Army by a lone goal.

Penalty corner striker Sohail Abbas scored the decisive goal off team’s second penalty corner in the 52nd minute.

Wapda had brushed aside Army 3-1 in the semi-final of the 61st National Hockey Championship last year.

The soldiers’ defied pressure by restricting Wapda from opening their account in the first three quarters before Abbas beat goal-keeper Adnan Asif eight minutes before final whistle. Earlier, Wapda failed to cash their first PC in the 34th minute.

Army also got two PC’s in the 41st and 58th minutes but went unfruitful.

The third-fourth position play off between NBP and Army will be played at 12noon while PIA take on Wapda in the final at 3pm on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2016