Azlan Shah Cup: Pakistan held by South Korea
Match ends 2-2. Pakistan to now face India for the fifth-sixth place playoff on Sunday.
Kim Seong Kyu of Korea (L) tries to reach for the ball before Rasool Shafqat of Pakistan (R) hits it during their match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup men's field hockey tournament in Malaysia on March 16, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
IPOH:
Pakistan drew their last pool match with South Korea on Saturday, 2-2, with goal difference ensuring the Koreans finished higher than the green shirts.
Pakistan needed a win to secure a spot for the third-fourth playoff. They had already been ruled out for the final, not having secured enough points.
Pakistan started off steady, soaking in pressure from the Koreans. In the 16th minute, as a Korean penalty corner was cleared, Pakistan broke and Salman Hussain tapped in off a Abdul Hassem Khan cross. That was the way the first half finished.
Korea though came out strongly in the second half. Two penalty corners in as many minutes pushed Pakistan back. Hyun Hye Sung smashed the ball into the roof of Pakistani net off the second penalty corner to level the scores.
However, Pakistan soon re-took their lead as Khan deflected in a cross in the 47th minute.
That lead would not last for long as Korea got level for a second time in the match, this time through a Pakistani own goal. Korea got three successive penalty corners after that but could not convert.
Needing a win, the green shirts pressed on and Shafqat Rasool missed an open chance in the 59th minute.
The draw means that Pakistan ends up in fifth place, and will likely play with India for the fifth-sixth place playoff on Sunday.
Pakistan drew their last pool match with South Korea on Saturday, 2-2, with goal difference ensuring the Koreans finished higher than the green shirts.
Pakistan needed a win to secure a spot for the third-fourth playoff. They had already been ruled out for the final, not having secured enough points.
Pakistan started off steady, soaking in pressure from the Koreans. In the 16th minute, as a Korean penalty corner was cleared, Pakistan broke and Salman Hussain tapped in off a Abdul Hassem Khan cross. That was the way the first half finished.
Korea though came out strongly in the second half. Two penalty corners in as many minutes pushed Pakistan back. Hyun Hye Sung smashed the ball into the roof of Pakistani net off the second penalty corner to level the scores.
However, Pakistan soon re-took their lead as Khan deflected in a cross in the 47th minute.
That lead would not last for long as Korea got level for a second time in the match, this time through a Pakistani own goal. Korea got three successive penalty corners after that but could not convert.
Needing a win, the green shirts pressed on and Shafqat Rasool missed an open chance in the 59th minute.
The draw means that Pakistan ends up in fifth place, and will likely play with India for the fifth-sixth place playoff on Sunday.