AMSTERDAM: Pakistan, down by four goals by 27th minute, staged a glorious comeback in the second session to draw 44 with Australia in the BMW seven nation tournament here,
Australia had a 4-1lead at half time in a match that many thought before the tournament would decide the destination of the trophy.
In the best match of the tournament so far, the Pakistanis showed the true stuff of champions as they mounted a phenomenal counter attack in the second half as they had done against India.
In the end, the Australians tended to tire and literally wilted under the onslaught being lucky to escape with a draw, Initially, Pakistan made the cardinal mistake of giving the Australians too much space for manoeuveres.
On their own part, the Pakistani forwards held on to the ball for too. long, indulging in fancy stick work, which helped only the Australian defenders.
Pakistan was also affected by some the decisions of German umpire Spre‘who tended to favour the Australians. Several of the referee’s blasts on the whistle were at best quixotic and hard for anyone to understand.
Even before the Pakistanis could warm up and adjust to the cold, windy conditions, the Australians were a goal up.
Offa penalty corner forced in the first minute, Jay Stacy scooped the ball into the net while custodian Shahid Ali laid flat, expecting a hard hit.
‘As the close approaching, Australians looked tired, and the Pakistanis took advantage of the desperate clearances of the defenders from down under. Pakistanis scored the third goal in the 65th minute when the forward line went through, Tahir Zaman sounded the board with a neat flick.
With just over a minute left for the long hooter, the Pakistanis forced their sixth penalty corner which skipper Qazi MohibUr Rahman struck with all his force. The hit flied into the net off ‘a defender’s for the equaliser.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 29, 1990
