Asian power houses Korea and Pakistan woke up timely and lit up the Bukit Jalil turf here on Friday in the 29th Champions Trophy in Kuala Lumpur.
On Day Two Match One, it’s the much maligned Pakistan who set the trend for another of upset to follow late in the day. Getting over the trauma of getting beaten 2-5 by Germany 22 hours ago, the fleet footed Pakistanis opened their wings, kept the momentum flowing all through, which helped them post two opportunistic and unanswered goals to upset the applecart of the Spaniards.
In the Day’s last match, usually precise Australians were outrun by the Koreans and when the lone goal of the match came midway through the second half out of the lone penalty corner they obtained, the fate of the match was effectively sealed.
The third Asian in the fray, the hosts Malaysia’s woes continue unabated. Though an upset seemed to be in the offing when Kevinder Singh scored, but the Dutch doused the fire before it could spread. It’s again the clinical finish from the duo Ronald Brouwer and Rob Reckers that made the host’s challenge meaningless. On the second pitch, the British showed no signs of improvement, as Germany pumped in four goals rather routinely despite dishing out a mediocre display. Germany converted just two of their seven penalty corners, but for that, the British could have got drubbed deeply further.
Spain rested Pol Amat and Santi Freixa for the Pakistan challenge. It proved costly. Having already lost two points in their first match, the prospects of the team is now precariously placed, unless something miracle would happen in the coming days. However, coach Maurits Hendriks attributed lack of preparations –“The team met at the airport on Sunday and could not train before due to Spanish League” – for the initial blues the team is going through right now.
On the other hand, the Pakistan management which analysed the first match defeat very poorly – “Poor goalkeeping from the part of Salman Akbar” – held their heads high in the media brief today, and fittingly Salman himself was on the dais along with the coach. Heads nodded affirmatively when coach Manzoor ul Hassan said that his inexperienced young forwards will be much better after this match.
Pakistan’s win had certainly electrified the contest, and had lifted the morale of the young team to a new high. It was pleasing to see the wingers Waqas Sharif and Abbas Hyder tear apart the rivals with fast run downs on the flank, and for a change, parting the ball in the nick of the time too.
Much credit should be given to Zeeshan Ashraf whose timely interception and cool tackles in side the circle averted many a danger. That the Pakistanis were a determined lot, mentally, could be understood the way Waqar Shariff who scored the goal in the 54th minute and his strikers celebrated it. It for a while appeared the side had won the title! This must have certainly infused them with fresh energy to continue the onslaught.
On their day, the Koreans can be dangerous, unstoppable. It was so on Friday. Their chargers in the penalty corner defence got injured, taken away up in the stretcher, still one after one was ready to do the same, risking whatever. Al the four penalty corners of the Aussie were thus rendered unfruitful. Jaime Dwyer was subdued and it told on the final outcome.