U21 hockey side wins series against Spain

Visitors claim second penalty shootout win to take three-match competition 2-1

KARACHI: The Pakistan U21 hockey team won their three-match series against the Spain U21 hockey side, claiming their third match against the hosts in a penalty shootout after the tie ended 3-3 in Terrassa, Spain yesterday.

Spain had won the first game 3-2 before Pakistan won the second on a penalty shootout and the Colts repeated the trick yet again to claim the decider.

Spain took the lead in the fifth minute but Mohsin Sabir’s 14th-minute strike ended the first quarter at 1-1. Spain scored again in the 22nd minute to make it 2-1 and it wasn’t until the 47th minute that Pakistan equalised through the nimble-footed Bilal Qadir.



It took Spain just two minutes to regain their lead as the hosts seemed determined to not let this match go into the penalty shootouts but Pakistan’s Abu Bakr scored four minutes from time to ensure it went the full distance.

“The overall performance of the team was incredible; they showcased their skills and used them to perfection here,” captain Ammad Butt told The Express Tribune. “The players did commit a few mistakes, which are part and parcel of the game, but they overcame those and supported each other really well.”



The young skipper expressed his satisfaction with the tour. “I am really lucky to lead such an energetic team; this tour was one of the best we had as we lost only one match from the nine we played, six in the Netherlands and three against Spain.”

Butt added that this tour will help prepare the side for the Junior World Cup to be held in India in December. “The matches made us learn new skills and made us better communicators on the field,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2016.

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