Pakistan secure draw with Australia

KARACHI: Pakistan came from behind to secure a 5-5 draw with Australia in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur after trailing 3-1 at half-time.

Timothy Bates opened the scoring for Australia in the 11th minute before Grant Schubert made it 2-0. However, Muhammad Rizwan reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 21st minute before Christopher Cierello made it 3-1 before the half-time whistle. Ciriello scored his second five minutes into the second half before Muhamad Irfan scored to reduce the margin by 4-2.

With 13 minutes to go, Pakistan converted a penalty corner to make it 4-3 but Schubert pegged Pakistan back with his second goal of the match with nine minutes to go. It looked all but over but Muhamad Umar Bhutta scored Pakistan’s fourth goal. Drama increased as Rizwan and Ciriello were yellow-carded but Imran converted a penalty corner to draw level at 5-5 before Zubair missed an easy chance in the final minute to finish the match. Meanwhile, India surprisingly went down 5-2 to hosts Malaysia in the other match of the day.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 13th, 2010.