22-Dec-2011
The News
KARACHI: Pakistan made the most of their penalty-corner opportunities to thrash China 3-0 at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Wednesday in the first game of a four-match Test series.
Although ranked 17th internationally, China kept their pace of game at par with Pakistan, former world champions and currently World No 8. Pakistan only managed to distinguish themselves from China on penalty-corners, as they converted three out of six they got.
China failed to capitalise even on a single penalty-corner out of the three they got. “Converting a penalty-corner is a team effort and not an individual show. Therefore, I think we managed to win as a unit,” Pakistan skipper Mohammad Imran said after the match.
After a few attacks and counter-attacks from both sides in the first fifteen minutes of the game, Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan successfully converted a penalty corner. Eight minutes later, Mohammad Imran doubled the lead for Pakistan, also through a penalty corner. China tried to make a comeback and created a couple of chances in 27th and 35th minutes, only to be obstructed by goal-keeper Imran Shah.
The score was 2-0 in favour of Pakistan at the first half break. In the 51st minute, Mohammad Tauseeq extinguished all hopes of the visitors of making a comeback in the match when he scored through another penalty-corner.
China gathered themselves in the remaining part of the match and created a few more chances, but they lacked the killing instinct. Mohammad Imran said that his team would remain focused in the remaining part of the series to pull more victories. He added that his side would not get complacent. “We will stay focused in the remaining matches as well and will not take China lightly. We are working to address our weaknesses and are getting better with every match.”
Meanwhile, Chinese skipper Song Yi said that his team was not dejected after the defeat and that they would try their best to make a comeback in the next matches. “We are looking forward to make progress and slowly we are getting better. So I am hopeful that we will soon have a strong team. However, Pakistan is a very strong side and played well today and therefore they won.” |
