LAHORE, Dec 20: Three goals late into the second half helped Pakistan Whites overcome Pakistan Juniors 3-1 in the opening match of the NBP hockey league at National Hockey Stadium Friday.

Although both the sides launched attacks on each other, they mostly failed to find the target due to poor finishing.

Junior conceded nine penalty corners and a stroke. Whites converted two penalty corners and a stroke. Juniors got five short corners but converted none.

Juniors grabbed the shock lead when Naeem Akbar slammed home a Awais Khan pass in the 39th minute.

Whites, having four senior camp players, Mohammad Qasim, Zeeshan Ashraf, Amir Saleem and Imran Rasool, finally got the equaliser after resumption by converting a penalty stroke in the 55th minute through Imran Warsi.

Imran pulled another for Whites when he converted the penalty corner off a defender’s stick two minutes later.

Samiullah sealed the fate of the game, banging home a last minute short corner on an indirect effort.

Awais of Juniors was declared the best player of the match, Qasim of Whites best goalkeeper, and Imran (Whites) best scorer.

SATURDAY’S FIXTURE: Pakistan Greens v Pakistan Juniors.