It was Dar HA’s second game in Germany against the First team of HC Essen 99 and the Pakistani lads dominated the proceedings for the better part of the game and comfortably led 3-0 at the interval. The Lahore based academy was given a scare when the HC Essen converted two penalty corners in the first 12 minutes of the second half to reduce the lead to the bare minimum. However, the Dar HA immediately regained the supremacy and entered the opponents’ circle almost at will. They added two more goals to emerge 5-2 winners when the final hooter sounded. Star of the day was their outstanding forward, Bilal Mahmood, regarded as one of the finest emerging talents in Pakistan hockey. All four of his goals were wonderful striker finishes; the beauty and maturity of them belied his tender age.
Scores: Tanvir Dar HA, Pakistan: 5 (Bilal Mahmood 4, Salman 1). HC Essen 99, Germany: 2 (Spaeker)
