U18 test series: Amjad hat-trick gives Pakistan unassailable lead

Hosts 2-0 up in four-match series after winning third game 3-0 against Oman

KARACHI: Amjad Ali successfully converted three penalty corners to guide Pakistan’s U18 team to a comfortable 3-0 win over their Oman counterparts in the third of their four-match test series at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore.

Pakistan opened their account in the 17th minute as Amjad converted a penalty corner to take the lead 1-0, scoring another goal in the 24th minute to go 2-0 up by half time.



The second half saw both teams show some attacking verve, but neither were able to score until the last minute, when the hosts were awarded another penalty corner that was again converted successfully by Amjad to end the match 3-0 in Pakistan’s favour.

Pakistan are now leading the series 2-0 after a draw and two wins.

“We gave chances to our reserve players and also experimented with new tactics,” Pakistan U18 coach Mudassar Ali Khan told The Express Tribune. “All players’ skills are being tested and they are responding to the training really well by implementing what they have learnt so far.”



He added, “The purpose is to provide good match practice and confidence to the players before the Boys Asia Cup in Bangladesh, starting in a few days.”

Mudassar also pronounced himself satisfied with the result. “Although we didn’t score as many goals as in the second match (six to Oman’s one), we dominated most of the time and three penalty corners were a big plus point.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2016.

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