CNS Hockey: NBP wins Final on Shootout after 8 goal Thriller

LAHORE, Oct 07 (APP):The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) won
the Chief of Naval Staff Hockey Tournament beating spirited Wapda
in a penalty shoot-out after a full-time 4-4 draw here on Sunday
at the National Hockey Stadium.
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat
was the chief guest on the occasion and he witnessed the match
with keen interest. Also present were President, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Brig (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, Secretary, Shahbaz
Ahmad Senior and officials of Punjab Hockey Association.
The finale presented an exciting duel between country’s top
two sides in front of a charged sizeable holiday crowd. Thrice
National Bank went two goals ahead and each time Wapda reduced
the margin to one.
Eventually, with just two minutes left, Wapda made it 4-4 to
send the match into shootout. Here again, it ended equal after
five shoots had been taken by the each side. Finally, bankers won
the final in an exciting manner in sudden death shoot-out.
The NBP made the initial inroads. In the 3rd minute, Bilal
Qadir squandered a good chance with a poor shot. Four minutes
later, he made amends by putting his side ahead with a good
finish-off a fine move.
Within two minutes, a banker forward was felled in the Wapda
circle. The resulting penalty stroke was calmly converted by
their captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, wrong footing the goal-keeper.
Having a never-say-die approach, Wapda reduced the margin
in the 17th minute. A swift left side move culminated in Ajaz
Ahmed flicking the ball in.
But just three minutes later, the NBP restored the two goal
advantage. A brilliant aerial ball covering more than 50 metres
was collected well by Dilber near the Wapda circle and put it
past the onrushing goalkeeper. It was 3-1 at half time in
favour of the NBP.
The third quarter saw spectacular hockey at a fast pace.
Just two minutes after the restart, an electrifying Wapda raid
rattled the bankers’ defence and Irfan Jr slotted in from
a close range to make it 3-2.
Pole to pole game ensued. Wapda, in particular, utilising
both the wings, created some good chances but could not get
the desired result because of the the rival custodian Mazhar
and poor finishing. Bankers also had a few opportunities. In
the 43rd minute, Abubakr made it 4-2 converting his side’s
first penalty corner with a perfect high flick.
Early in the last quarter, Wapda had a penalty stroke of
their own. Lanky international Aleem Bilal flicked it to
goal-keeper, making it as 4-3. Wapda also wasted four
back-to-back PCs. When they couldnt make anything out of
their seventh PC as well, it seemed all over.
NBP also made a few attacks. One of which saw a fast Wapda
turn-over of which Shajeeh scored the equaliser in the 58th minute
from a close range. It ended 4-4 and Shootout went out in favour of National Bank in the sudden death phase.
Scorers, National Bank: 4 (Arslan Qadir, Ammad Shakeel Butt,
Dilber, Abubakr). Wapda: 4 (Ajaz Ahmed, M.Irfan Jr., Aleem Bilal,
Shajeeh).
In a classification match for the third place, SNGPL beat
sister teams SSGC 4-1.
Scorers, SNGPL, : 4 (Mohammad Farhan, Dawood, Suleman, Faisal Shah) .Sui Southern: 1 (Mohammad Rizwan Jr).
Later, the chief guest, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat distributed the prizes. Following cash prizes were given, winners National Bank, Rs Five Hundred Thousand Runners up ,Wapda, Rs Three Hundred Thousand, Third: SNGPL, Rs Two Hundred Thousand. Individual prizes, Player of Tournament: Rashid Mahmood (NAVY): Rs 50,000, Top Scorer: Aleem Bilal (Wapda):
Rs 25,000, Best Goal Keeper: Rana Umair (SNGPL): Rs 25,000