Shabbir gives Pakistan third title

31/03/2003

PAKISTAN 1 GERMANY 0
Shabbir Hussain 61st
N. ZEALAND 3 S. KOREA 2
Hayden Shaw 8th Lee Jung-seong 9th, 17th
P. Burrows 44th
Bevan Hari 61st
PAKISTAN upset the formbook when they toppled World and Azlan Shah Cup
defending champions Germany by a solitary goal in Ipoh yesterday.
And when the final horn blew, the Pakistan players went wild celebrating
the triumph with their fans - with goalkeeper Ahmad Alam and Kashif Jawad
dancing wildly on top of their goal imitating what the Germans did after
lifting the World Cup trophy in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Pakistan last won the trophy in 1999 and 20002, and the victory erased
last year's disastrous outing where they failed finish among the top
three.
Pakistan attempted to seize the early goal yesterday but German
goalkeeper Arnold Clemens brought out some superb saves to deny the former
Asian powerhouse.
Pakistan received their first penalty corner in the 14th minute, but
Clemens read Sohail Abbas' flick well and palmed it over the bar. Pakistan
came back charging for their second penalty corner but were denied once
more by the towering Clemens.
After 25 minutes of ferocious attacking, the match slowed down with both
sides reluctant to let in any simple goals.
As the match entered the third quarter, Germany were pinned back in
their own semicircle with the ball whizzing from left to right of their
goalmouth, but Kashif Jawad and his team-mate's fancy stick-work came to
naught.
In the 52nd minute, Germany were awarded their third penalty corner but
there were no takers for Philipp Crone's low attempt.
Just as the capacity crowd were being lulled into slumber with the
Germans reluctant come out of their half, Shabbir Hussain brought the roof
down.
Pakistan skipper Nadeem Mohamed crossed from the right and after Clemens
had missed it, Shabbir was left with the easiest task of tapping it into
goal for Pakistan's third Azlan Shah Cup.
Minutes later Kashif Jawad had the golden opportunity to seal the match,
but his shot rebounded off the post.
Meanwhile in the earlier match, New Zealand made full use of their
wildcard entry to finish third when they edged South Korea 3-2.
New Zealand, who received an invitation when Australia declined because
of domestic commitment, drew first blood when Hayden Shaw scored off a
penalty stroke but the Koreans fought back to find the equaliser a minute
later through Lee Jung-seong.
Lee took South Korea to the fore with his second penalty corner goal in
the 17th minute and the score remained until the 44th minute.
In the second half, the Kiwis increased their tempo with Phillip Burrows
tucking in a field goal to even the scores. Bevan Hari scored the winner
in the 61st minute through a penalty corner as the surprise team finished
third in the tournament.
Roll of Honour - Most promising player: Christopher Zeller, 18
(Germany).
Man-of-the-final: Clemens Arnold (German goalkeeper).
Man-of-the-tournament: Sohail Abbas (Pakistan); Fairplay: Pakistan.
(END)