Pakistan earned a spot in the 2012 Champions Trophy
semi-finals after stunning defending Olympic Champion and World #1
Germany in a 2-1 decision in today’s quarterfinal. Is it the first time
since 2004 that Pakistan finds itself in the hunt for a medal at the
Champions Trophy. On the other side of the coin, this is the second
consecutive time that Germany has missed the semi-finals at the annual
event.
Shakeel Abbasi was the man of the hour for Pakistan. He fired in both Pakistan goals in the surprising win.
Pakistan was simply the better team in today’s game,
generating more scoring chances and chipping away at the tough German
defense, which found itself on duty for much of the 70 minutes. The
Germans managed just one shot in the first half, but they made it
count as veteran Moritz Fuerste, one of only three players in
Melbourne from the 2012 Olympic team, gave the Germans a 1-0 lead nine
minutes into action.
Pakistan was not put off by the goal and maintained its pressure on
the German net. Admittedly not all of the scoring chances were
impressive, but it put Pakistan in a better position to get the odd
penalty corner chance.
Pakistan’s persistence finally paid off when Abbasi
scored a picture-perfect goal four minutes into the second half on a
follow-up play after a penalty corner opportunity to even things up at
one. Abbasi struck again with 20 minutes to go on in the half after he
put in another second-effort goal after a penalty corner. The key goal
went to video review, but it was ruled valid and Pakistan climbed out
to its first lead of the game.
The lead endured through an action-packed 20 minutes as Germany found
itself two men up in the last two minutes but unable to get the
equalizer as Pakistan earned their semi-final spot.
Pakistan will take on Netherlands in Saturday’s semi-final.
