Asian Games champions Pakistan got off to a confident start in the four-match hockey series with an easy 3-0 win over China at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Wednesday.
It was a historic occasion for Pakistan as international hockey has returned to Pakistan after seven years. Pakistan, who enjoyed upper hand during the match, utilised half their half a dozen penalty corners to notch-up comfortable win. Muhammad Irfan and captain Muhammad Imran scored the goals in the first session and Muhammad Tauseeq converted one goal in the second session.
Players were introduced to Interior Minister Rehman Malik who was chief guest at the ceremony.
President Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Qasim Zia, Secretary Asif Bajwa, chief selector Hanif Khan, Olympians Hasan Sardar, Danish Kaleem, Salim Sherwani, Ahmed Alam and Secretary of Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) Farooq Khan and other officials were present on the occasion.
Spearhead Shakeel Abbasi made two lively crosses in the first five minutes but fellow forwards failed to divert the ball into the goal. Pakistan were rewarded in the 15th minute when they secured a penalty corner. Muhammad Irfan smartly converted it giving no chance to Chinese goalie Su Rifeng.
Pakistani forwards maintained constant pressure on the Chinese goalpost. Three minutes after missing the second penalty corner in the 20th minute, Muhammad Imran doubled the lead with well executed drag-flick in 23rd minute. Chinese forward showed spark in patches but smart checking by defenders thwarted their attempts. Dong Yang, Liu Yixian and Sun Long created a few lovely moves. Pakistan enjoyed 2-0 lead at the breather.
The Chinese looked slightly better in the second half and picked up the tempo with a couple of moves.
China custodians blocked the fourth penalty corner from Irfan. Pakistan forwards were unable to take the advantage of the rebound.
In 51st minutes it was young Muhammad Tauseeq who converted the team’s fifth PC with powerful drag push landing at the top of the cage.
Chinese forwards, determined to score their opener, forced back to back penalty corners in 62nd and 63rd minutes. On the last PC Song Yi, brilliant attempts struck the cross bar to the dismay of his team-mate. Putting Pakistan defence under pressure, Cui Yongxin and Lu Fenghui combined nearly paid dividends. However, goalkeeper Imran Shah, who was preferred over seasoned Salman Akbar took the try on the pads. The second match of the series will be on Thursday at the same venue and next test matches will be played at Faisalabad (Dec.24) and Lahore (Dec.25).
