Boys U18 Asia Hockey Cup: Rampant Colts put 14 past Hong Kong

Pakistan thrash Asian counterparts to set up semi-final clash with India

KARACHI: A hat-trick by Khairullah helped Pakistan register a whopping 14-0 win over Hong Kong in the Boys U18 Asia Hockey Cup as the Colts progressed to the semi-finals of the event at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh yesterday.

Pakistan followed their 6-1 and 6-0 wins over Chinese Taipei and China by thrashing Hong Kong to top Pool A and keep their winning run in the group stages of the tournament intact.

The Colts led 4-0 by half-time and increased the tempo of their game in the second-half when they added 10 more goals to pile misery on the hapless Hong Kong, who did not even once manage to infiltrate Pakistan’s penalty area.



Pakistan, in three pool matches, have now scored 26 goals conceding only one. They will now face India, who finished second in Pool B.

Head coach Kamran Ashraf was delighted with the performance but was quick to advise the team to keep their feet on the ground.

“We have passed the first phase with flying colours and I am happy for the team, but the difficult phase is about to start,” he said. “India will not be as easy as the teams we have had to face, while Bangladesh have been really impressive in the tournament.”



Ashraf further revealed that the team would spend a day analysing India’s weaknesses by watching videos and practicing to capitalise on those weak areas.

“We have to ensure that we are prepared to take on India. We are here to win the tournament and anything other than that is unacceptable for us,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2016.

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