PIA beat NBP; Army play 1-1 draw against NBP in Gold Cup Hockey

By AM Khan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) scored a narrow 2-1 win over National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Pakistan Army played a 1-1 draw against Customs in the Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the outer ground of the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

The national air career led the first half 2-1 while the second half failed to produce even a single goal which narrated the saga of missed chances and long term ball possession on part of both the sides.

PIA shot into lead with the fifth minute goal scored by Inyat Ullah in mid field move. PIA beaming with stars accelerated the pace of attacks and deployed full force to hunt more goals.

Ammad Shakeel Butt scored their second in the 27th minute before Bankers equalised at 1-1 after receiving 21st minute goals from Arslan Qadir in a lovely mid field move aided by right and left wings.

Both the teams did everything except scoring in the coming half and long time balls possession mostly confined the game to mid field.

Customs and Army played a goalless first half and the real action of the game was seen in the second half. Both the teams made desperate productive efforts to score and Customs stamped their supremacy with the 52nd minute penalty corner goal scored by Mushtaq. Army salvaged their pride three minute before the close of the when Safeer equalized off a short corner.

Friday is the rest day while Army will take on NBP and Wapda will play against Customs on Saturday.