Hockey: Pakistan hold India, through to final

Greenshirts to face hosts Australia for the title tomorrow.

PERTH: Pakistan will face Australia in the final of the tri-series hockey tournament tomorrow after holding India to a 1-1 draw in Bunbury yesterday.

Pakistan, who lost both matches to the hosts while recording two draws with India, qualified for the final on account of a better goal difference.

Needing just a draw against India, the Greenshirts were 1-0 up after Sohail Abbas scored off a penalty-corner. However, India levelled the score in the 26th minute before both teams struggled to find the net again.

Pakistan manager Khwaja Junaid said the team was pleased with its performance.

“The team did well,” Junaid told The Express Tribune. “The players showed strong nerves in a tough battle. We dominated most of the proceedings and it was a good way to go into the final.”

‘Quiet contest’

Meanwhile, the arch-rivals, who were involved in an on-field brawl in an earlier game, played a calm match yesterday, according to the manager.

“Both teams showed good behaviour,” said Junaid. “The game was played in a better spirit.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2011.