LAHORE, Dec 18: Three-goal Haseeb Minshas helped Army recover to beat Master Paints 7- 5 1/2 in the opening match of Punjab Police Polo Cup on Monday. The losers, having half-goal handicap, made a stormy start taking a 3 1/2-1 lead. Omar scored first for Army, converting a 40-yard penalty hit. But four-goal Shah Shamyl Alam scored back-to-back goals while Sufi Mohammad Haris banged home one as the losers gained 3 1/2-1 lead in the first chukker.

Haseeb reduced the margin (3 1/2-2) in the second chukker.

The third chukker saw an even fight as Army dominated in the initial stages scoring through Mashood and Asif Zahoor. But in last stages Master Paints salvaged the lead (5 1/2-4) as Shamyl fired home back-to-back goals.

The fourth chukker was totally dominated by Army, scoring three goals in a row. Haseeb added two while Omar his second to complete the tally.