Pakistan storm into final, await next victims

24/01/2002

PAKISTAN became the first team to qualify for the Six-Nation final when
they beat New Zealand 3-1 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil
last night.
And the other team vying for a berth in the final is Australia, who meet
Pakistan today. Australia must either draw or avoid a heavy defeat in the
match if they want to play in the final on Saturday.
Pakistan made all the moves but lacked their finishing touch as New
Zealand goalkeeper Micheal Bevin was in top form yesterday.
Shahbaz Ahmed and his men tried every trick in the book but in the 12th
minute, a soft goal saw them trailing the Kiwis.
It was a rare attack by New Zealand and Ken Robinson tried his luck from
the top of the semicircle but the ball, amazingly, sailed past five
Pakistanis and goalkeeper Qasim Muhammad and sounded the board. The New
Zealand players hesitated, surprised at the ease by which the ball went
in, and only celebrated when the umpire blew for goal.
That goal brought out the worst in Pakistan and they could get nothing
right after that. Their passes, which were always accurate until
yesterday, went wild and New Zealand started attacking.
Pakistan only won their first penalty corner in the 30th minute and the
Pakistan section of the crowd expected Sohail Abbas to save them, but Kiwi
goalkeeper Bevin saved the day again. A minute later Sohail got another
penalty corner chance but pushed wide.
But 20 seconds from the end of the first half, Pakistan won their third
penalty corner and this time Sohail's flick crashed into the net and
Pakistan were back on level terms.
In the second half, Pakistan became desperate and although their
attempts got the crowd all riled up, they had no goals to show because
Kiwi goalkeeper Bevin stopped them all.
But in the 49th minute, Kashif Jawad rocked the goalmouth for his sixth
goal in the Six-Nation and Pakistan were back in the game and looked sure
for a place in the final on Saturday.
And in the 55th minute, Salim Khalid made sure of the win with a diving
deflection which went between the Kiwi goalkeeper's pads. The move, as
usual, was initiated by Shahbaz who is fast becoming the backbone of the
Pakistan side.
(END)