Karachi ‘A’, Sargodha sail into main round
Karachi ‘A’, who also finished as table-toppers, with 15 points, were in aggressive mood against Lahore who caved in 5-0, while Sargodha clobbered Naseerabad 31-1 to accumulate 12 points.
Asif Awan’s hat trick in Kohat’s 13-0 win over Mekran was overshadowed by the high-scoring game between Sargodha and Naseerabad and crunch Karachi `A’-Lahore encounter.
The most crucial tie of the day between Karachi `A’ and Lahore started with the home side on the attack from the very beginning as they went 1-0 up in the third minute of the match with two- goal Izhar Ahmad poaching his first by converting a penalty corner.
While Lahore’s mediocre play in the midfield and inside the circle continued, the local outfit went 2-0, this time through a beautiful field effort in the 27th minute.
Izhar beat the entire defence and the goalkeeper to score his second from close range as he almost walked the ball into the net.
By the time break approached, Karachi `A’ had taken an unassailable 3-0 ascendancy slamming home a short corner in the dying moments of the first half through Ishtiaq Ahmad.
Three goals before second session completely demoralized Lahore who were never came back into the game.
A move generated from the right side saw Wasif Raza firing home in the 40th minute, but it was the three-touch move in the 59th minute involving Izhar, Wasif and Mansoor Sheikh which produced the most spectacular goal of the game.
Karachi `A’ sustained their penetrating runs into Lahore half as Izhar collected the ball near 25-yard line to fed anticipating Wasif who set up Mansoor near the cricle.
Sargodha got off to a hurricane start as they surged into a 13-0 lead before the interval, scoring the first three goals within the space of three minutes.
Twelve-goal Imran Zafar started with a goal in the second minute of the first half, Shahid Mahmood came into action in the third minute, while Imran got his second the next minute.
Ansar Hayat’s 11th-minute raid was followed by goals from Shahid Mahmood Jr and Shahid Mahmood in the 12th and 18th minutes, while Imran added another in the 23rd minute, and Rana Rauf scored two minutes later.
Imran continued his target practice, netting another in the 28th minute, Mohammad Azam banged home after 60 seconds, Imran was again on target in the 31st minute, Ansar and Bilal Saeed finished first half with goals in the 33rd and 34th minutes.
Naseerabad, who finished at bottom in the tournament having conceded highest number of goals (90), were reduced the smithereens after restart as Sargodha pumped in 18 more.
Imran (36th, 38th minute), Shahid Mahmood (39th minute), Imran (42nd minute), Rauf (43rd minute), Imran (44th minute), Shahid Mahmood (45th minute), Imran (46th, 47th minute), Rauf (48th minute), added more.
Rauf (49th minute), Azam (53rd minute), Rauf (54th minute), Shahid Mahmood (55th minute), Bilal (57th minute), Shahid Mahmood (60th minute), Shahid Mahmood Jr (61st minute), Imran (65th minute) completed Naseerabad’s punishment.
Ejaz Hussain got the consolation for Naseerabad in the 62nd minute.
In a match having no significance, Kohat hammered Mekran 13-0, grabbing a 8-0 lead before the breather.
Asif slammed home in the 4th, 12th, 15th, 21st, 27th minutes to complete his hat trick. Amir (30th minute), Jamil (31st, 33rd minute), Amir (36th minute), Jamil (52nd minute), Asif (54th minute), Sajjad Hussain (63rd minute), and Asif (69th minute) completed the rout.
Points table (teams, played, won, lost, draw, goals for, goals against, points):
Karachi ‘A’ 5 5 0 0 54 1 15
Sargodha 5 4 1 0 63 8 12
Lahore 5 3 2 0 60 11 9
Kohat 5 2 3 0 29 15 6
Mekran 5 0 4 1 4 89 1
Naseerabad 5 0 4 1 4 90 1
Our Sports Reporter adds from Rawalpindi:
Rawalpindi Tuesday won the preliminary round of the national hockey championship, defeating Multan 3-1 in the final at ARL Naseer Bunda Ground.
Asif scored twice for Rawalpindi with Rahat adding the third. Usman netted the solitary goal for Multan who forced eight short corners in the match while Rawalpindi had seven.
Both teams have already qualified for the final round starting in Karachi later this month.