9:00 pm: Ihsan vs Shukr
Game One was a barn burner. Two evenly matched veteran teams going at it. Game 2 is going to be even better - probably the game of the season. Shukr’s offence runs through the young phenom Humza Chaudhry, when he is on his A-game, this team is rolling. Chaudhry was everywhere last game, setting up the tying goal on the power play, feeding Ali Wadee to tie it up 1-1 with about 6 min left to play. But he can not do it all, and this game truly will come down to which team’s secondary scoring does its magic. As much firepower and savvy veterans that Shukr has, 41% of its goals have come from it’s GMs. Erfan Bhanapatel, Arslan Mian who have played in big games before have to rise to the occasion and put some into the net. Ihsan, getting a surprise goal from Hannan Ghafoor early in the 1st period, couldn’t muster a goal after that. Although they had quite a few chances after and even had an amazing opportunity in the dying seconds of the game. Arif Bijabhai needs to get open and utilize his big shot, which we haven’t seen in a while. The experience of Razi Ahmed, Farooq Khan, Moe Bilal know how to handle Shukr and I expect them to have a huge game. If they continue putting pressure on Yasir Hussain, and stay out of the box(Razi Ahmed...) then this game is theirs for the taking. The secondary scoring of Ihsan, has had more success this season and that is where this game will be won. This is a winner take all game, whoever wins is off to the finals.
Prediction: Ihsan wins
10:00 pm: Ikhlas vs Haya
Ikhlas is for real. The depth is for real. They just neutralized Haya in ways not seen before. Ikhlas rolled past Haya by a score of 3-1. Just like with Ridha before, they clogged up the neutral zone and nullified the speed of Humza Ali and Maaz Haq. Haya’s only goal came off of a lucky bounce in which Imran Alvi thought he had the ball covered up but the ref did not see it and Dawood poked the ball in. The defending champions seemed lost out last game generating only 4 SHOTS!!!! What is happening with this squad? Haya needs to come out guns blazing utilizing its offence that it is known for. Expect a stacked line of Haq, Ali and Dawood Ciombar. For Ikhlas, they need to utilize the same game plan that’s been working for them the past few games, going back to the regular season. First Overall pick Abu Manjra, finally had a massive game picking up 2 goals. But Ikhlas’ defence was the theme of game 1. Will Haya figure out a way to solve the defence of Ikhlas, or will Ikhlas be too much and punch its ticket to the championship? Based on what Ikhlas did when they executed the gameplan of Coach K it doesn't look like Haya - or whoever Ikhlas will face in the finals has much of a chance.
Prediction; Ikhlas wins
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