Pakistan

The green shirted Pakistanis registered yet their second straight win in the 26th Samsung Champions Trophy whipping off a challenging New Zealand 3-1 at the National Hockey Stadium Turf in the Provincial Metropolis of Lahore on Sunday.

In other matches, both the Germans and the Indians were defeated again. The Spaniard drubbed the Germans 5-2 and the Netherlands won by 5-4.

The crowd appeared to be in thousands when the two teams had started the bully off and during the initial ten minutes both sides attacked each other. The hosts got hold of the ball and made an attempt in the very fifth minute but without success. Two minutes later the New Zealanders were in the forefront dangerously moving in the circle, earning their first penalty corner in the seventh minute. The spectators held their breath as the visitors twice attempted to take the lead and on both occasion the ball just deflected away. A real tense moment for custodian Salman Akbar.

Once it was cleared, Pakistan made counter moves and within minutes nearly had scored the opener but Kashif Jawwad's first attempt was saved by the goalie and in the second his hit went way off the mark over the goal post. The two sides then exchanged control of the ball and their wingers tried hard to take advantage, still couldn't find the net. A good piece of quality hockey.

The first half remained barren and just before the two sides had changed ends, Pakistan's Shakeel Abbasi was shown a green card and Muhammad Saqlain failed to beat Woolford in the net. New Zealand got their second penalty corner immediately after the resumption and Wayne McIndoe put his team one up. A flat shot, which went past the defenders and even Salman Akbar as the visitors just celebrated the goal.

With a one goal deficit, the Pakistanis pushed through and tried mostly to get penalty corners rather than making field attempts. This led the New Zealanders restricted into their circle for a while when Tariq Aziz ran through the defenders but Woolford refused to be beaten, a good save. In the process Tariq was also warned for rough play with a green card.

The crowd was chanting and waving the national flag and all the more they wanted an equalizer and finally it came in the 50th minute when Shakeel Abbasi sounded the board and in next five minutes two more goals were scored and both on penalty corners. Sohail Abbas first pushed through Woolford in the 53rd minute and then in the 55th minute he again sounded the board with a powerful hit as the visitors goalie stood guessing under the bar. New Zealand still made a couple of moves towards the closing stages of the game but the defenders kept a close eye. In between Ghazanfar Ali was also injured and taken off the field after the umpires had stopped the play in the 60th minute.

Monday being the rest day, Pakistan now takes on the powerful Dutch on Tuesday, December 7 in their third match of the round robin competition. The Netherlands rolled over past the Indians in their second game 5-4.

The Spaniards inflicted the Germans their second consecutive defeat. After the two teams had scored one goal each at the interval. Albert Salsa had scored the opener for Spain in the 20th minute and four minutes later, Florian Keller brought the equalizer for the Germans.

After resumption, the Spaniards had added three more goals as against one by the Germans. Juan Escarre in the 39th minute, Eduard Arbos a minute later, Pau Quemada in the 66th mine and right at the buzzer Albert Salsa scored his second and Spain's fifth goal. Keller also scored the second goal for the Germans. The Germans next play the Indians while Spain meets New Zealand in their third game.

Against the Netherlands, the Indians were put on the front through a fifth minute goal by Sundeep Michael but then the Dutch fought back through Teun de Nooijer who scored twice while Geert Jan Derikx, Karel Klaver and Taeke Taekema scored one each. The Indians were able to reduce the margin through Vikram Pillay, Arjun Halappa and VS Vinaya.

Position after two matches: 1. The Netherlands 2. Spain 3. Pakistan 4.Germany 5. India 6. New Zealand.

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