Pakistan loses to Great Britain by 2-1 in the FIH Champions Trophy
Following a head-to-head competition between Pakistan and Great Britain, the latter emerged victorious over the former by 2-1, in the first-day game of the Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy. The heated game was contested at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium,
in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday, December 03.
It was a fast-paced game where both the teams played quite aggressively, throughout the seventy minutes of play. The duo displayed a committed defence that kept the score to a minimum level.
Muhammad Imran, the Greens-shirts’ skipper, while speaking to the media after the match stated that Pakistan was not good in availing the chances it earned during the course of the play.
He observed, “We played well but unfortunately we missed our chances and we're working on that”.
Khawaja Muhammad Junaid, the Pakistan Hockey team manager, was satisfied with the results. He stated that the Green-shirts were going in the right direction and were still in the process of making improvements.
He commented, “We are still in the tournament we played good hockey and we are not demoralised”.
Despite the two teams fighting aggressively against each other, exchanging plenty of attacks in the early part of the game, they failed to open the score-account.
Finally, Muhammad Imran from Pakistan drew the first blood in the 31st minute mark, acquiring a goal through a penalty conversion.
Ashley Jackson found a chance in the waning minute of the first half but failed to avail the opportunity. Pakistan was leading the score by 1-0, at halftime.
The British team charged itself up and resumed the play, carrying out back to back attacks against the Green-shirts.
With seven minutes into the second half of play, Mark Pearn notched a goal for Great Britain, making the score equal at one-all.
It is worth highlighting here that Pearn made a comeback in international hockey after a break of six years.
In the 62nd minute of play, Abdul Haseem Khan missed a chance to break the stalemate, when his shot went wide.
With four minutes remaining in the regular time, Simon Mantell scored the game-winner for Great Britain.
Pakistan failed to make an equalisation in the remaining period, losing the first game at the hands of Great Britain by 2-1.
Tags: