KARACHI, Sept 13: Capital Dynamos pulled a major upset beating formidable Shan-e-Punjab 7-4 in the Super Hockey League, courtesy rampaging three-goal Shahid Rabbani and Gagan Ajit Singh in a match marred by electricity failure on Tuesday.
The match played under floodlights was stopped midway for 50 minutes because of power breakdown and could not start as generators were not powerful enough to restore lights of the four towers at Hockey Club of Pakistan.
Shan-e-Punjab, involved in rough play most of the time, were reduced to ten players when Shafqat Rasool was yellow carded in the eighth minute of the first quarter for hitting Dynamos Ishtiaq Ahmad.
But it was bad luck that prevented Shan-e-Punjab from scoring as Inayatullah shot rattled the post next minute, while on the other end Dynamos missed when Ishtiaq’s effort went wide off target.
It was Gagan who drew first blood after a goalmouth melee in the 14th minute. Shan-e-Punjab put the game on an even keel when Shafqat Rasool converted a Malik Shafqat free hit two minutes into second quarter.
Sandeep Sindh, Indian penalty corner striker representing Shan-e-Punjab, was unimpressive as he netted only twice on 10 short corner attempts as either the ball was not properly stopped or he was unnerved by goalkeeper or defenders.
While Sandeep’s try in the 21st minute was stopped by defender Inamur Rahman, his blistering low drag-flick found the target two minutes later.
The topsy-turvy game continued as underdogs Dynamos were not impressed by the attacks or the goals as Shahid rounded the Shah-e-Punjab defences to slot home the equaliser following a perfect Ishtiaq pass in the 26th minute.
Dynamos maintained their goal-spree as an unmarked Gagan cashed-in on a defensive lapse to slam home from close with a full-blooded hit to make it 3-2 in the 30th minute.
Gagan was again in action three minutes later but this time he was denied by Shahn-e-Punjab goalkeeper Salman Akbar. Shan-e-Punjab lost another player when Tariq Aziz was sin-binned a minute into third quarter.
Gagan goal had opened the floodgates as Shahid was running Shan-e-Punjab defences into dizzy disarray but missed target from the top of the circle.
Shahid, making regular incursions deep into Shan-e-Punjab territory, rounded Salman for his second goal with a spectacular effort in the 40th minute.
It was soon after Shahid’s goal that light went off and quarter was restarted after 50-minute delay when the electricity was restored.
Salman thwarted Waqas Akbar attack soon after re-start while Mohammad Usman try was also saved by Pakistan goalkeeper in the dying moments of the third quarter.
Just when it seemed the match would end with a 4-2 scoreline, Waqas rifled home with an opportunist strike in the 57th minute, while Gagan took barely 60 seconds to make it 6-2 when he dodged past defenders before sounding the backboards.
Shan-e-Punjab were continuously pressing for their third goal through forcing several short corners, expecting Sandeep to do wonders. Dynamos goalkeeper Amanullah kept Shan-e-Punjab skipper Mohammad Saqlain at bay in the 61st minute.
After failing on several occasions, Sandeep finally managed to reduce the margin when his along-the-carpet push went past Amanullah in the 63rd minute.
Shan-e-Punjab scored two minutes later their fourth goal when they converted a penalty stroke through Saqlain.
Dynamos completed Shan-e-Punjab’s misery when Shahid hammered home third goal two minutes from time.
Gagan was declared the Player-of-the-Match for the second time in league.
Mohammad Imran winner helped Northern Cavaliers edge past Sindh Qalandars 4-3.
Qalandars went 1-0 up through Kashif Jawwad in the fifth minute, while Shabbir Hussain netted twice in the 18th and 25th minute minutes.
Cavaliers reduced the margin when Imran was on target in the 43rd minute and Rehan Butt found the cage three minutes later. Imran restored parity in the 51st minute and netted the winner four minutes later.
Wednesday’s fixture: Sindh Qalandars vs Shan-e-Punjab, 6.30 pm.