5th Sultan of Johor Cup: Australia thump junior Pakistan side 6-2

Coach insists players are there just to gain experience

KARACHI: Pakistan junior hockey team fell to their second consecutive loss at the 5th Sultan of Johor Cup, after being comprehensively beaten 6-2 by the Australia juniors side.

Chief coach Tahir Zaman said the players are just there to improve their skills and gain vital experience for the Asia Junior Cup beginning next month.

“The boys have been gaining experience and are getting used to the techniques of the top teams,” Zaman told The Express Tribune from Johor Bahru. “Playing here is a different experience; one that they need before the next event starts.”



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Zaman feels the difference can already be seen in the side. “The players have improved. Their game play was better today and they are getting more confident with each passing game,” he said.

Pakistan were especially poor in the first half, conceding four goals. Andrew Scanlon wreaked havoc early on, scoring in the eighth and 12th minutes to virtually end the contest early on. The junior Kookaburras then scored two in quick succession near the half hour mark as Hayden Beltz and Max Hendry got on the scoresheet in the 27th and 29th minutes respectively.

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The second half saw a much improved performance from Pakistan as they pulled two goals back in the 31st and 41st minutes, but any outside hopes of a dramatic comeback were squashed in the 53rd and 60th minutes to end the game 6-2 in Australia’s favour.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2015.

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