LAHORE: A 67th minute goal by Ali Zeeshan helped Port Qasim earn a 3-2 win against PTV on the first day of the 58th National hockey championship at the Faisalabad Hockey Stadium on Friday. The winners drew the first blood in the seventh minute when Awais Khan struck a field goal.

Zulfiqar brought the equaliser after four minutes.

Port Qasim salvaged the lead in the 16th minute when Yasir banged home with a field effort to make it 2-1.

The lead remained in tact till the half time.

After resumption, PTV restored the parity through Waqas Butt in the 48th minute, converting a short-corner, before Ali Zeeshan struck the decisive goal.

Two top teams of the event, PIA and National Bank of Pakistan opened their campaigns with a goalless draw.

Habib Bank Limited (HBL) earned 3-1 win against Navy with Shahzad Nasir scoring two in 56th and 62nd minutes.

Rana Zubair scored the third in the 69th minute.

Navy scored the consolation goal through Shahbaz in the 57th minute.

In another match, Army outplayed Pakistan Steel Mills 5-2.

Rizwan Junior (first minute), Waqas Zafar (17th), Mohammad Afzal (29th), Qasim Ikram (53rd) and Kashif Ali (60th) were the contributors for Army.

Irfan Ali Khan and Rizwan scored in 31st and 65h minutes respectively to reduce the margin of defeat.

Saturday’s fixture:

SSGC v Navy; NBP v PTV; Army v Port Qasim; HBL v PIA.