FFC outplay PQA in National Hockey

LAHORE: Newly-raised Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC) impressed with victory over Port Qasim Authority (PQA) in the 64th National Hockey Championship now in progress in Sukkur.

According to information available here Asfandyar scored a brace in FFC’s 5-3 win over PQA. Promising Wasim Akram, Awais Rahman and Ilyas were their other goal-scorers. For PQA, former Pakistan captain Shakeel Abbasi, Haaris and Bilal found the target.

In an earlier match, Young Customs side defeated PTV 3-0. Waqas Ahmed, M.Shoaib and Asad Arshad shared the goalsTwo matches involving the provincial sides were one-sided. Punjab defeated FATA 9-2 with goals coming from Punjab’s Ahmer Ali (2), Jahangir Ali (2), Muzammil Hussain (2), Mohammad Ahsan, Faizan Haider and Aaqil Saleem.

In the other match, KP defeated Balochistan 6-0. Scorers from the winning side were Adeel Zaman (2), Ziyad (2), Jawwad and Naveed Iqbal.Earlier yesterday, youthful Customs side gave the defending champions PIA a real scare before going down 3-4 in an exciting encounter. PIA scorers were Ehasanullah 2, Mudassar Abbas & Usman Ghani and Customs, Salman Hussain, Shahbaz & Farhan.

Another exciting match was witnessed between ZTBL and Railways. The newly- raised ZTBL, who are making their debut at the nationals, also went past the rail-men with ascore-line of 4-3. Wapda, another contender for the title, also had an easy sailing against Higher Education Commission, winning by eight goals to nil. There scorers for winners were M. Imran 2, Tasawwar Abbas, Ejaz Ahmed, Asad Bashir, Irfan, Ghazanfar and Rana Umair.Punjab, a strong provincial outfit, riding on a hat trick by Ahmad Farhan and a brace by Ahmer Ali, defeated Gilgit-Baltistan 7-0. Muzammil Hussan and Jahangir Ali scored a goal each.