Noman Janjua’s Second-Half Double Fires Pakistan Navy Past Guangdong, 3-1 in Islamabad
Friday night in Islamabad, and Pakistan Navy did what nobody else has managed on this tour: they beat Guangdong outright. 3-1 at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Ground, the third game of the Chinese side’s visit, and it was M. Noman Janjua who settled it.
Guangdong struck first, a 24th-minute penalty corner to lead 1-0 at the break. Then Janjua took over. He dragged Navy level from the penalty spot at 36′, put them ahead with a field goal at 47′, and a third Navy goal — The News, which carried the report in Saturday’s print edition, didn’t name that scorer — sealed a 3-1 win.
That’s three games of the tour in the books, and each one has told a different story. Mari Energies won the opener 5-2 in Rawalpindi, Guangdong edged Pakistan Army on a shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in Islamabad, and now Navy’s comfortable 3-1. The young Chinese side are getting a proper workout.
They get no rest either. The tour moves to Lahore on Sunday for Pakistan Customs, then it’s Rangers in Narowal on Monday, the Pakistan U-18s in Gojra on Wednesday and Police in Lahore next Thursday.
Our take
Janjua’s the story here. Two goals in eleven second-half minutes to turn a half-time deficit into a win — that’s a match-winner’s contribution, whatever level you play at. And quietly, this tour is doing exactly what it was meant to: competitive hockey, week after week, against foreign opposition. More of this, please.
Related: Guangdong Tour Dates Have Moved: Pakistan Navy Are Next on Friday, Customs Now Sunday in Lahore, Mari Energies Beat Guangdong 5-2 in First Test in Rawalpindi, Guangdong Beat Pakistan Army on Shoot-Out After 1-1 Draw in Islamabad, PHF Sets 31 October for Board and Congress Meetings as Azlan Shah and Nations Cup Planning Tops the Agenda.
