After rather a dull first half in which Pakistan had the better of the exchanges, Pakistan took the lead with substitute winger Rehan Butt. He collected a loose ball on the top of the circle, dragged it to the centre before whacking a strong forehand on the run. The ball crashed in to the other corner of the net.

But even before the Pakistan crowd’s cheers die down, Spain neutralized. Fabregas trapped a carpet pass from centre, and in a flash of second, in a one to one situation with the goalie Imran Shah, he sent the ball between the legs of the goalie. It was unexpected of goalie Imran who could have closed his legs timely to avoid the goal.

Earlier, the match witnessed a goal being disallowed. In the second penalty corner, Spain took the shot, the ball rose very high after Imran Shah blocked. The umpire could have easily signaled for another penalty corner but allowed the game, of which a forward jumped to his height to deflect a very high ball. The umpire signaled the goal, giving Spain a 2-1 lead. Pakistan successfully got a referral to convert it into penalty corner which it defended well.

Earlier, Sohail Abbas failed with both the penalty corner Pakistan got, Spain goalie coming up with hawkish anticipation.