Veteran striker Shakeel Abbasi failed to score on a penalty stroke, a chance that meant the Greenshirts could not get the equaliser they needed to stay in the game. PHOTO: FILE AFP
KARACHI:
Pakistan paid for an ordinary show during the final stages of the game, succumbing to South Korea 4-3 in the quarter-final of the Hockey World League (HWL) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia yesterday.
Not only did the Greenshirts crash out of the title-race, they also missed a chance to confirm entry at next year’s World Cup — the top three teams at the HWL are due to book their place for the global tournament in the Netherlands. Pakistan will now have to wait for the Asia Cup in August that serves as the World Cup qualifiers as well.
After being spurred with a top finish in Group B where they remained unbeaten, Pakistan started off well but failed to carry on the momentum in the second-half unlike their previous games.
Mohammad Waqas gave the side an early lead when he found an opening in the fifth minute. The lead gave the side confidence as they continued to dominate the encounter, making repeated attempts on goal.
Mohammad Tauseeq then doubled the lead in the 17th minute before Korea hit back, reducing the lead through Kang Moon Kweon, four minutes before the half-time whistle.
In the second-half, Korea came back as a different side, leveling the score just after three minutes with Kweon striking again.
Pakistan regained the lead through veteran Shakeel Abbasi who scored from the penalty spot. But the Koreans held their nerves and scored two goals in as many minutes (48th and 49th) to take a 4-3 lead with Nam Hyun and Kim Young being the tormentors.
Pakistan kept looking for the equaliser but missed several easy chances, including a penalty-stroke from Abbasi as Korea progressed to the semi-finals.
Pakistan now face Malaysia in the first of their fifth-to-eighth-spot matches tomorrow.
Pakistan missed golden chance: Samiullah
Olympic great Samiullah Khan expressed his disappointment after the loss.
“It was the best chance for Pakistan to seal their berth for the World Cup,” Samiullah told The Express Tribune. “The defeat is disappointing as Korea ended last in the group while we were the favourites after topping it.
“It has now become an uphill task for Pakistan to qualify directly because the Asia Cup will be more difficult as only the winning team will confirm its place.
“It will never be easy to win in the presence of teams like India, Malaysia and South Korea.”
Samiullah blamed the team management and senior players for the defeat that knocked the team out of the title-race.
“I did not see much coordination among the players. We played well in the first three matches but lost the touch in this match especially the second half. I feel lack of training was also among the reasons for the unsuccessful campaign.
“There is still time left and the team management must formulate an extensive plan as rest of the teams will come well prepared for the Asia Cup.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2013.
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and there goes our World Cup hopes....it will be a historic moment in history of Pakistan Hockey that the team fails to even qualify for the World Cup
Sad to READ on "ET" that our name in MISSED FROM "WORLD CUP" tournament.