World Hockey League: Pakistan crush South Africa to top Group B
Haseem Khan scores a hat-trick and Zubair secures a brace as Pakistan win 6-2.
Pakistani players celebrate after scoring a goal against South Africa in their World Hockey League group match. PHOTO: FIH
QUETTA:
Pakistan crushed South Africa in the Mens Hockey World League in Malaysia on Tuesday to top Group B, thanks to goal difference, the International Hockey Federation’s website reported.
Abdul Haseem Khan scored a hat-trick as the green shirts raced to a two goal lead by the 17th minute. South Africa managed to pull a goal back in the 25th minute when Wade Paton drag flicked a sensational penalty corner effort just inside the right post.
But Pakistan responded almost immediately as Haseem got a crucial touch on a penalty corner to score his first goal of the game and Pakistan’s third. They went into the half with the green shirts leading 3-1.
Pakistan started the second half much the same way the did the first as Haseem finished off a move by putting the ball into the goal on 41 minutes.
South Africa then tried to put Pakistan under a spell of pressure, but the green shirts responded with another goal as Haseem secured his hat trick and effectively killed off the match as a contest.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Zubair turned in Shakeel Abassi’s corss-shot to secure a brace before the South Africans got a consolation goal.
With the win giving Pakistan a better goal difference than England, they topped Group B and will now face South Korea, who finished fourth in Group A, in the quarter finals on Thursday.
Pakistan crushed South Africa in the Mens Hockey World League in Malaysia on Tuesday to top Group B, thanks to goal difference, the International Hockey Federation’s website reported.
Abdul Haseem Khan scored a hat-trick as the green shirts raced to a two goal lead by the 17th minute. South Africa managed to pull a goal back in the 25th minute when Wade Paton drag flicked a sensational penalty corner effort just inside the right post.
But Pakistan responded almost immediately as Haseem got a crucial touch on a penalty corner to score his first goal of the game and Pakistan’s third. They went into the half with the green shirts leading 3-1.
Pakistan started the second half much the same way the did the first as Haseem finished off a move by putting the ball into the goal on 41 minutes.
South Africa then tried to put Pakistan under a spell of pressure, but the green shirts responded with another goal as Haseem secured his hat trick and effectively killed off the match as a contest.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Zubair turned in Shakeel Abassi’s corss-shot to secure a brace before the South Africans got a consolation goal.
With the win giving Pakistan a better goal difference than England, they topped Group B and will now face South Korea, who finished fourth in Group A, in the quarter finals on Thursday.