Saturday September 12 -
Canada 3-3 Pakistan
Read in "The Hindu": Pakistan almost crashed against Canada in a
Pool B match trailing by 0-3 at one point this evening. Before the team could
settle down, Canada surged ahead through penalty corner goal by
Robin D'Abreo, which was followed
by two goals by Peter Milkovich.
Recovering somewhat late in the day, Pakistan, reduced the margin through
Anis Mohammad, but continued to be in a state of suspense when Imran Yusuf missed
a penalty stroke. However, he made amends shortly for the lapse by restricting
the leeway, which was closed before the end by Atif Idris.
Pakistan, it must be noted, struggled to beat Kenya 5- 4, in the opening
match and on Saturday the effect still seemed to be alive. Pakistan has four
points from two matches, and so is Canada.
Read in "Dawn": Pakistan struggle to draw 3-3 against Canada,
by Sydney Friskin
Pakistan lived dangerously against Canada and managed only a 3-3 draw in a
pool B hockey match which they could have won if only the had kept their heads.
The story of this extraordinary match is that Pakistan conceded three early
goals and were soon involved in an exhausting uphill struggle. Having scrambled
to safety, despite wasting a penalty stroke, they nearly lost the match in the
dying seconds!
To start with, questions have to be asked about the stability or lack of
it in Pakistan's defence. Too many mistakes were made and attention was soon
drawn on the goalkeeper Ahmed Alam. He was taken off after conceding two goals
and replaced by Qasim Mohammed. At the start of the second half Ahmed Alam was
back again in harness and lost his nerve in the later stages of the match by
rushing out and handling the ball outside the circle. He was sent off with a
yellow card and Qasim returned to defend the penalty corner which Ahmed Alam
had conceded! The danger was averted when Qasim made a good save.
Canada had no pretensions to style and craft and their main assets were
speed and a great deal of guts. However, there was plenty of skill and cohesion
in Pakistan's attack which was motivated by Atif Bashir. In fact, he started
the recovery with his smart picking up and speedy forays along the right flank.
The early enthusiasms, however, came from Canada who were quick to spot the
open spaces in Pakistan's defence. In five minutes they forced the first penalty
corner of the match and Robin D'Abreo
converted. Before another minute had elapsed, they were awarded another penalty
corner from which a shot by Ian Bird
was deflected for a long corner. Pakistan retaliated with a full scale assault
which ended with Mohammed Sarwar trying unsuccessfully to make contact with a
centre by Atif.
In the 15th minute, Peter Milkovich
converted another penalty corner for Canada after which Ahmed Alam left the
scene. To add insult to injury, Milkovich increased Canada's lead soon after
with a goal from open play.
Pakistan then woke up and earned themselves a penalty corner which came to
nothing for the want of a pattern. Then a square pass by Mohammed Khalid from
the left was picked up inside the circle by Atif Bashir who was obstructed on
the point of scoring but the infringement escaped the notice of the umpire.
Pakistan's efforts were finally rewarded five minutes before the interval
when Atif set up the chance for Anis to score. A minute later Mohammed Sarwar
delivered the ball to Atif who was pushed from behind while trying to score.
This time the umpire spotted the misdeed and rightly awarded a penalty stroke.
The hope that Pakistan would cross over with only a deficit of one goal
disappeared when a splendid diving save by the Canadian goalkeeper
Mike Mahood deprived Imran Yusaf
of a goal that would have put a different complexion on the game.
But Pakistan were not to be denied. Within three minutes of the resumption
of play Pakistan laid siege to the Canadian goal. A scramble led to a penalty
corner which Imran Yousaf converted and Pakistan were back in the match.
Pakistan then stepped up a gear and Atif scored from a pass by Anis to level
the match at 3-3. Pakistan scented victory but could not score from two
successive penalty corners because of the vigilance of the Canadian goalkeeper.
Then all of a sudden Pakistan were in the toils because of Ahmed Alam's
indiscretion... They would have been in worse trouble from the last penalty
corner of the match awarded to Canada but fortunately Ali Raza made a timely
stick save on the line from Rob Short's
try.
Wednesday September 9 -
England 1-1 Canada
Canada tied England 1-1 in the opening match today.
It was a very even first half.
Rob Short opened the scoring for
Canada from a free hit outside the circle. England tied it up on a penalty
stroke that was awarded when a scooped ball was stopped with a high stick...
The score at the half was 1-1.
The second half saw the game a little more open but no additional scoring.
Coach Shiaz Virjee said:
"Overall I was pleased with the result as we have had so many changes from
the team that lost to England (1-2) in the World Cup a couple of months ago.
All players took the field for Canada except
Hari Kant (GK). The young guys
played quite well and most importantly played their roles well. They seemed
to fit in quite nicely. They are very enthusiastic and fast and it paid off.
We now have a couple of days to rest and then we will play Pakistan! Everyone
is healthy and we have no injury."
For more information:
fhc@fieldhockey.ca
F.H.C. Menu
Commonwealth Games Menu
Canadian Team
