ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL
Rawalpindi (August 13, 2021):-Pakistan WAPDA and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) set to meet in the final of Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2021 on Sunday, after beating Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Navy in the semifinals respectively under the floodlights at Mari Petroleum Astroturf Hockey Stadium Ayub Park on Friday evening.
In the first semifinal, WAPDA outplayed 5-0 to Pakistan Navy, as the winners took good start and scored four goals in first quarters. Fifth goal was scored in the last quarter of the match. PAF failed to open the account despite of getting couple of penalty corners. Aleem Usman scored two goals while Ali Aziz, Mubashir Ali and Ijaz Ahmed scored each one goal.
Later, in the second semifinal both teams NBP and Navy players displayed excellent skills of game and showed quality game of hockey. Navy got the lead when Akbar Ali netted the ball on the second penalty corner. They maintained the lead next two quarters. But in the last quarter Dilbar Hussain received a beautiful pass from right side by Abubakar and help NBP to make 1-1 draw. On penalty shoot-out NBP won the match 2-1.
Teams:
Pool (A):
WAPDA, Pakistan Navy, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Army
Pool (B):
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Air Force (POA), Punjab
Schedule & Results:
August 8, 2021 (Day-1):
WAPDA beat Pakistan Army 2-1
NBP beat Pakistan Air Force 3-2
Pakistan Navy beat Mari Petroleum Company 2-1
August 9, 2021 (day-2)
SSGC Vs Punjab 2-2 Draw
Army Vs MPCL 3-3 Draw
WAPDA beat Navy 1-0
August 10, 2021 (day-3)
PAF beat Punjab 5-1
NBP beat SSGC 4-3
August 12, 2021 (day-4):
NBP beat Punjab 6-2
SSGC Vs PAF 1-1
Navy beat Army 4-2
WAPDA Vs MPCL 0-0
August 13, 2021 (Day-5)
1st Semifinal: Pakistan WAPDA beat PAF 5-0.
2nd Semifinal: NBP beat Navy on penalty shootout (2-1) Match was leveled 1-1 after four quarters
August 15, 2021 (Day-6)
Third place match
Navy Vs PAF
Final
NBP Vs WAPDA
