Great Britain ended Pakistan’s unbeaten run in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Sunday with a hard earned 3-2 victory, leaving the Asian side with a slender lead at the top of the standings. Both teams have six points from three matches, but Pakistan are ahead on goal difference. In their last meeting in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Britain won 4-2 and they again managed to take full points despite coming under pressure in the late stages of the match.
Coach Jason Lee said he was satisfied with the win. “It was a much better performance than we played against India the other day. We are here to learn and built on our team. naturally we too would like to win the tournament. The race is still wide open,” he said.
Robert Moore opened the scoring in the eighth minute from a field attempt. But Pakistan’s veteran penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas levelled in the 31st minute.
In the second half Pakistan went on the offensive and came close through Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi and Waqas Akbar only to be denied by in-form Britain goalkeeper Nicholas Brothers. Four minutes into the half Britain regained the lead through Jonathan Clarke, heaping pressure on Pakistan to respond. Clarke was again on target in the 63rd minute against the run of play, scoring from a field attempt after breaking through in a fast counter attack.
Pakistan hit back immediately through Abdul Haseem Khan but it was not enough to peg back Britain. In an earlier match, world champions Australia were held to a 1-1 by India thanks to a superb defensive performance against a second-half onslaught from the world’s leading team. Both teams now have four points after a win and a draw, but the Indians have played a game more, losing to South Korea.
Just six months ago India were thrashed 0-8 by Australia in the Commonwealth Games final in New Delhi and Australian coach Ric Charlesworth said the result was disappointing. “But I am not surprised… India played good hockey but I think we too were responsible as we did not take our chances,” he said. India hold Australia in Malaysia: World champions Australia were held to a 1-1 draw by India at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Sunday thanks to a superb defensive performance against a second-half onslaught from the world’s leading team.
Both teams now have four points after a win and a draw, but the Indians have played a game more, losing to South Korea. Just six months ago India were thrashed 0-8 by Australia in the Commonwealth Games final in New Delhi and Australian coach Ric Charlesworth said the result was disappointing. “But I am not surprised… India played good hockey but I think we too were responsible as we did not take our chances,” he said.
It was a resilient performance by India who had to absorb tremendous pressure in the second-half as the Australians pushed for victory after being pegged back from a 14th minute lead. Australia created early opportunities with Glenn Turner and Jacob Whetton having good shots at goal saved by India’s Adrian D’Souza. The Aussies took the lead through Whetton, who scored with a field goal after dribbling into the D.
India had several chances but the best opportunity came in the 19th minute when Shivender Singh missed the final touch. But Indian pressure paid off in the 23rd minute, equalising from their first penalty corner. Rupinderpal Singh, who scored three penalty goals in the match against Britain, flicked home the ball for his fourth goal of the tournament. Australia, the World Number one, responded by going on the offensive, dominating play for much of the second-half.
But the Indians managed to hold out for the draw, ably clearing the ball from defence. Both teams were unhappy with the umpiring claiming it was inconsistent and that decisions had gone against them.
Britain ends Pakistan’s win streak at Azlan Shah Cup
