Dar HA starts European tour on a positive note

Having figured in the semi finals of the last two European Nations Championships, Belgium is now recognised a major hockey power of the continent along with Germany, Holland, England and Spain.
Tanvir Dar Hockey Academy of Pakistan, on its third tour of Europe, had their first match against the first team of Rapid HC at Temse, 25 km from Antwerp. Rapid HC figured in the 2nd division of the Belgian league during the last season and were having the services of three former junior Belgian internationals. A former Pakistani junior international Naeem Khan, now settled in Belgium, was also playing for them.
It turned out to be a game of two halves. After an evenly fought first half which ended 1-1, the Dar HA swept aside the Belgian club in the last 35 minutes to emerge 6-1 winners. Perhaps coming from temperatures of over 40 degree Celsius to the cooler environs , the Pakistani outfit needed some time to adjust.
The game began on a fast pace and Rapid had their first penalty corner as early as in the 4th minute, saved well by the Dar HA custodian Waqas Butt. The visitors responded quickly and after a failed field attempt, the Dar HA earned three back to back penalty corners. An indirect attempt off the last one found a defender’s foot stopping it from entering the goal. The resultant penalty stroke was duly converted by the academy’s captain Saleem to score his team’s first goal of the tour in the 15th minute. The hosts looked for an equaliser in a determined manner and had a PC in the 23rd minute palmed away well by Waqas Butt. On the other end, striker Bilal Mahmood, who had the goal at his mercy, got the shot all wrong .
In the 33rd minute, rapid a right side attack by the Rapid HC, found Wouter Van Hecke at the top of the circle who sunk a hard reverse stick shot into the corner of the tin giving the goal keeper no chance.
In the dying seconds, Bilal Mahmood had an excellent opportunity to re-establish the lead. A defensive blunder saw Bilal getting the ball near the circle with only the goal keeper in front. He tried to flick the ball over the advancing short stopper but the ball sailed over the bar.
So the two sides had all to play for in the 2nd half. The second period was an altogether different story. The lead was re-established as soon as the 5th minute by Bilal Mahmood courtesy an immaculate drill off the 5th PC.