ISLAMABAD, March 16: PIA comfortably beat Pakistan Army 5-2 for their third successive victory in the Inter-departmental Qualifying Round of 49th National Hockey Championship at POF, Wah, Friday.
In other matches on day 5 of the qualifying round, Habib Bank swept past University Grants Commission (UGC) 16-2 and Pakistan Railways fought off PTV 4-2 while POF and Pakistan Navy were involved in a 2-2 draw.
PIA led Army 3-0 at half-time and were scarely bothered in the second half too, though both the teams scored two goals each in the post-lemon period.
Inside left Aqeel and inside right S.M. Tariq slammed two goals each for PIA for whom the fifth goal was put in by discarded international centre forward Kamran Ashraf. Right in Muhammad Irfan and left in Muhammad Saleem were the scorers for PTV.
Centre forward Ijaz Rasool struck seven times in the scoring spree for Habib Bank who led 11-0 at halftime against UGC.
Others on target for the bankers were:Haider Hussain (3), Sohail Abbas (2), Abdul Qavi (2), Muhammad Khalid and Amir (one each). For UCG, their spearhead Haroon netted both the consolation goals.
Inside left Farhan pulled off two goals for Pakistan Railways who led PTV 3-1 at half-time. Muhammad Ali and Asad were the other scorers for Pakistan Railways while Riaz and Mansoor claimed the scoring honours for PTV.
Four teams each from the two pools will qualify for the main round of the national championship to be played at Lahore from March 29 to April 7.
The two pools are:Wapda, Habib Bank, Allied Bank, PTCL, Pakistan Navy, UGC and POF.
Pool B:Police, PAF, Army, National Bank, PTV, PIA and Railways.—APP
