LUCKNOW, India, Reuter: Defending champions Pakistan lived up to their reputation by easily beating Spain, while Kenya held an off from India to a draw in the Indira Gandhi cup Men’s Hockey Tournament on Sunday.
Pakistan defeated Spain 20 and India and Kenya played a scoreless draw in a tie which was postponed from Saturday because of the late arrival of the African team.
Ina match where a youthful Pakistani forward line sparkled with speed and ball control, Spain were forced on the defensive from the start, The first goal came through a penalty comer which Anjum Saeed converted by pushing in a pass from Qazi Mobi in the second minute
Qazi Mohib himself scored in the 28th minute, sending home a ground shot from his team’s fourth penalty comer.
Pakistan maintained their domination in the second half through the dazzling play of forward Shahbaz Ahmed, but could not score, mainly due to team mate Arif Bhopali’s errors near Spain’s goal,
In the other match, India failed to subdue Kenya despite forcing nine penalty comers and one penalty stroke.
Kenyan goalkeeper Paul Seweomay kept out powerful shots from Indian Captain M.P. Singh and effected a spectacular save in the second half by flinging himself {o the right to stop Sujit Kumar’s scoop off a penalty stroke.
‘The stroke was awarded against Kenyan defender Romotieno Odenier for bringing down forward Idris Latif near the goal.
Defender Eelco Van Der Neulen scored three times as the Netherlands posted a convincing 51 win over Malaysia on the opening day on Saturday,
In the day’s other match the Soviet Union drew 11 with Poland,
The Netherlands match was brought forward after Kenyan failed to arrive for their scheduled game against India Neulen opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a stinging shot from a penalty comer and followed it with penalty comer conversions in the 14th and 30th minutes to live his team a 30 lead at the break.
Mare Delissen in the 42nd minute and Eric Parleviet in the 49th were the other scorers for the Netherlands,
Malaysia had only one opportunity in the first half but Kevin Nunis, playing his 100th International for Malaysia, shot wide from close range. S. Sivabalan scored their only goat with a penalty stroke conversion in the 70th minute.
In the earlier match, Mikhail Boukatin converted a penalty comer in the dying minutes to help last year’s runners-up Soviet Union draw with Poland in a scrappy game.
Poland had taken the lead in the eighth minute through forward Karol Podzorski, who pounced on a rebound from goalkeeper Yuri Pakhomov and sent home a powerful drive.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 20, 1989