Azlan Shah Cup: Pakistan beats New Zealand in opening match
Pakistan won 4-3 with Muhammad Imran grabbing a hat trick.
Pakistan beat defending Azlan Shah Cup holders New Zealand 4-3. PHOTO: AZLANSHAHCUP.COM
KUALA LAMPUR:
Pakistan held on to beat defending champions New Zealand, 4-3, in their opening match of the 2013 Azlan Shah Cup on Saturday.
Pakistan, who had secured the bronze medal in the 2012 Champions Trophy before winning the Asian Champions Trophy, raced to a 3-0 lead against sixth-ranked New Zealand.
However, the Kiwis pegged Pakistan back with three goals of their own.
With just 12 minutes remaining in the game, Muhammad Imran displayed some fantastic hockey off a penalty corner to score his third and Pakistan's fourth goal of the match.
From then on Pakistan hung on to see out the match and grab three points.
Earlier, the game suffered a delayed of 30 minutes due to wet weather conditions and began at 4:35pm local time.
New Zealand won last year’s trophy with a dominant display of attacking hockey.
Pakistan held on to beat defending champions New Zealand, 4-3, in their opening match of the 2013 Azlan Shah Cup on Saturday.
Pakistan, who had secured the bronze medal in the 2012 Champions Trophy before winning the Asian Champions Trophy, raced to a 3-0 lead against sixth-ranked New Zealand.
However, the Kiwis pegged Pakistan back with three goals of their own.
With just 12 minutes remaining in the game, Muhammad Imran displayed some fantastic hockey off a penalty corner to score his third and Pakistan's fourth goal of the match.
From then on Pakistan hung on to see out the match and grab three points.
Earlier, the game suffered a delayed of 30 minutes due to wet weather conditions and began at 4:35pm local time.
New Zealand won last year’s trophy with a dominant display of attacking hockey.