KARACHI, Jan 4: Two late second half efforts by Zulfiqar went in vain as Sargodha squeezed past Lahore 4-3 in the 50th national hockey championship qualifying round at UBL Sports Complex Saturday.

The result of the game was not as good for Lahore as was the start when they went 1-0 up in the 11th minute through Asif Bilal. Sargodha neutralized Asif’s strike the next minute as their skipper Imran Zafar netted with a spectacular reverse hit.

Sargodha, from then on, fought back with more vigour and determination as they forged 3-1 ahead before half time.

Shahid Mahmood’s 19th-minute penalty corner conversion was followed by a splendid goal off reverse flick from Mohammad Azam who was set up by Imran from the left side in the 25th minute.

Sargodha were equally impressive after the breather and pressed for more goals. Rana Rauf of Sargodha, who got a yellow card in the 39th minute, missed from close range when his hit off a rebound went over the outline in the 47th minute.

Consistent attacks from Sargodha paid off as Shahid got his double by converting a 55th-minute penalty corner and increasing the lead 4-1.

Lahore, however, reduced the margin through Zulfiqar who struck twice. Zulfiqar first hammered in the 63rd minute and then fired home with a brilliant reverse hit barely two minutes from time.

Mekran, the punching bag of the tournament, after a 24-1 thrashing by Lahore and 25-0 rout by Sargodha, had some consolation when they came from behind to salvage a 3-3 draw with Naseerabad thanks to a Naeemuddin equaliser.

The outfit from Balochistan staged a remarkable comeback in the second half after going 3-0 down before the halftime.

Syed Abbas opened Naseerabad’s account late into first half when he found the target in the 29th minute, while Shah Hussain doubled the ascendancy four minutes before halftime.

Shah Hussain added another four minutes after restart. Naseerabad slumped dramatically as Mekran were recharged after the break and reduced the margin with a 45th-minute Abid Ali goal. Abid got his double in the 65th minute making it 3-2.

Naeem netted off a short corner to put the game on an even keel two minutes from final whistle.

Zeeshan Babar of Mekran received a yellow card in the 69th minute.

Izhar Ahmad’s double helped Karachi `A’ sail smoothly as they crushed Kohat 4-0 by starting with three-goal advantage before lemon time.

Adnan Najam grabbed the lead with a penalty corner conversion in the 13th minute, while Asadullah converted a penalty stroke in two minutes later.

Izhar nabbed his first in the 23rd minute and conjured up his second with another field effort to finish off the proceedings on 66 minutes.

Imran Khan of Karachi ‘A’ and Sarfaraz of Kohat were shown green cards for rough play in the 43rd minute.

Sunday’s fixtures: Lahore v Naseerabad at 11.30am; Karachi ‘A’ v Mekran at 1.30pm; Sargodha v Kohat at 3.30pm.