Australia crush Pakistan by 5-1 in 20th Azlan Shah Cup – Hockey news
Australia beat the Pakistan men’s hockey team by 5-1 in the first match being played on the fourth day of the seven-nation Invitational at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadim in Ipoh, Malaysia today.
There were a few changes in the squad from both the sides. Umar Bhutta and Muhammad Tousiq had not been added to the day’s game from Pakistan whereas the Kookaburras excluded Andrew Charter and Mark Paterson from the player roster.
In the first half, the Australian team gave a good start to the game by exchanging passes and making it into the Pakistan defence circle in the opening third minute. However, a well-attempted deflection from the Pakistan goal-keeper Imran Shah saved the
team from Jason Wilson’s attack. Within the next three minutes, Jacob Whetton made it into Pakistan’s defensive circle with the goal-keeper all alone. However, a timely save from Shah denied any addition to the scoreboard.
In the 14th minute, Australia received their first penalty corner award but failed to make it fruitful. However, Pakistan made an immediate counter-attack that enabled them to earn their first penalty corner in the 16th minute. This
corner failed to be converted by Imran’s low shot that was easily denied by George Bazeley, the Kookaburra goal-keeper.
In the 18th minute, Australia made a run back into the Pakistan defensive half when Whetton made a pass to Glenn Turner on his right, who failed to receive it and the effort went wasted. With a foul from the opponent side, Australia received a
penalty stroke in the 23rd minute that was easily converted by Simon Orchard, opening scores at 1-0.
Pakistan responded back with their second penalty corner award in the 25th. The Men in Green let the chance go to waste though. Pakistan struck again with a well-deserved third penalty corner award on the 28th minute mark. The world
record-holder penalty specialist, Sohail Abbas, made an appearance and converted the corner into an equaliser in the 29th minute.
With two minutes left to halftime, Kookaburras receive their second penalty corner but it was well-saved by Pakistan’s Waseem Ahmad. A surprising score took place in the last minute of the first half when Jason Wilson attempted a hit from the top of the
circle to home, closing the scores at 2-1 by half-time.
In the second half, Pakistan’s side made an impressive start by receiving a penalty corner in the opening minutes. However, Sohail was denied by Bazeley with some magnificent footwork. Australia managed to improve their lead by 3-1 when Simon Orchard scored
a shot home in the 41st minute of the match.
In a matter of eight minutes, the Kookaburras earned their third penalty corner that was well conceded by Christopher Ciriello, taking the Australian lead to 4-1 in the 51st minute.
The Australian strikers got back into action with another score when Jason Wilson cleared a shot to home in the 55th minute, advancing the lead to 5-1.
The Kookaburras continued their domination throughout the rest of the match as the Pakistan men felt defeated in the field. In the 68th minute, Australia received its fourth penalty corner award but there were no additions to the scoreboard.
The match concluded with a 5-1 victory for Australia over the Green-shirts.
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