RAWALPINDI, Jan 5: Rawalpindi and Multan qualified for the final round of the 50th national hockey championship on Sunday winning their respective preliminary round matches at the ARL Naseer Bunda Ground.

Hosts Rawalpindi had to work hard in overcoming Mardan 4-3 after leading 2-1 at the breather.

It were Mardan who scored first through Irfan at the start of play only for Jamil Asif to neutralise the advantage. Rawalpindi then went 2-1 up with a strike from Kazim.

After lemons, Mardan pressed forward and were rewarded with the equaliser, Naveedul Haq taking the honours.

However, Rawalpindi then added two more in quick time, through Asif while Shaukat pulled one back for Mardan seconds from time by converting a penalty stroke.

In the other encounter, Multan knocked out Azad Jummu and Kashmir 2-1, all the goals coming in the second half.

Usman opened the scoring for Multan with a field effort in the 44th minute but Nisar pulled AJ&K level minutes later.

The match-winner came with just two minutes remaining, and it was Usman again who did the needful.

The final of the preliminary round will be played Monday.