LONDON: Ashley Jackson produced a master-class to propel Great Britain to a 4-1 victory against Pakistan in their Group A match on Friday.
His two corner goals capped a performance around the field that blew Pakistan away, his turn of pace creating a string of problems.
James Tindall got Britain off to the flyer when Harry Martin got through down the right. His cross-shot was just about intercepted by Imran Shah but he could not get enough on it to escape the lurking Tindall who latched onto the loose ball and slammed home from a tight angle on the reverse.
The half’s main talking point, though, was a bizarre green card situation. Muhammad Waqas was green carded but Pakistan ended up with eleven still on the pitch that umpire Marcelo Servetto spotted soon after. Sohail Abbas was made to join Waqas on the sideline for the technical foul.
Pakistan did come back into the tie, but GB extended their lead in pristine fashion. Jackson cut in from the right wing with an exquisite turn before laying off to Nick Catlin running diagonally to the right. His movement opened space to square into the path of Jonty Clarke to gleefully finish off.
After an initial Pakistan burst, the second half proved a more languid affair as Jackson netted penalty corner flicks in the 50th and 67th minutes — the first was a low bullet, the second hitting the rafters of the goal.
Sohail Abbas did get one back, his 347th international goal, in the final seconds but James Fair denied a couple of earlier efforts just after the break which could have put the game in the balance.
It elevates Britain to seven points; second to Australia in the pool rankings on goal difference while Pakistan remain on four points in third place.
Argentina came back from a 2-goal deficit to tie Australia and earn their first point. Australia seemed to have the game well under control at half-time and will certainly regret the many wasted opportunities in second half that cost them a third win.
The teams began slowly, but then the Kookaburas picked up the pace to threaten Juan Manuel Vivaldi in the Argentinean goal. They grabbed the lead on a penalty-corner, Matthew Butturini picking up the rebound after a strong save on the line by Manuel Brunet behind his keeper.
Only with a few seconds left in the period Jamie Dwyer added a second goal, his forth of the competition, after pouncing on a loose ball mishandled by an Argentinean defender.
However, the break was beneficial to Argentina and Matias Vila was at the conclusion of a counter-attack to score in the first minute of second period.
Argentina scored on their first penalty-corner of the period by Gonzalo Peillat to tie the score with a few minutes left on the clock.
The end of the game was heated, but the score stood at 2-2, giving Argentina their first point of the tournament.
Germany beat India 5-2 at the Riverbank Arena in the Olympic men’s hockey Pool B at the 2012 London Games on Friday.
The Netherlands and Germany have nine points each but the former top the table thanks to better goal average. India are at the bottom, having lost all their three games so far.
