LAHORE, (PAKISTAN): Former champions Pakistan had to overcome spirited opposition before they defeated Canada by a lone goal in a pool “B” league match to post their third consecutive victory in the world cup hockey championship here on Feb 16th.
Canada, who was runners-up in the inter-continental cup, gave the hosts a strong challenge and threatened to snatch a valuable point before time ran out for them.
Pakistan started the match with their usual pace and kept the pressure on the Canadian goal but found their forwards missing the target too often.
‘An opportunistic goal by inside right Tahiz Zamanin the 24th minute was all the hosts could offer to the large Holiday crowd at the national hockey stadium here.
Canada, who forced five penalty corners in the match as against Pakistan’s four were themselves to blame for missing some close chances in both the sessions.
The victory gave Pakistan six points from three wins in as many matches. ‘They are second in the pool after West occupied by the Canadians.
The closest Bhopali came to scoring was when his weak push in the 59th minute rolled out after the last line of the Canadian defense was beaten.
In the last fifteen minutes, Canada went full steam for the elusive equalizer. In a series of attacks they nearly wrecked the Pakistani citadel.
Forward Ross Rutledge made at least three good attempts including one in tandem with substitute LeeTamkee but Pakistan goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed was made of sterner stuff.
Teams:
Pakistan-Mansoor Ahmed, Qazi Mohiburrehman, Khalid Bashir, Anjum Saeed, Farhat Khan, K M Junaid, Qamar Ibrahim, Tahir Zaman, Tariq Sheikh (Arif Bhopali), Shahbaz Ahmed, Waseem Feeroze.
Canada-KenGoodwin, Hargurnek Sandhu, Pat Burrows, Chrish Gifford, Douglas Knapp (Lee Tamkee), Andrew Griffths, Satinder Chohan, Ross Rutledge, Guy Manwaring (Hargurpreet Sandhu), Pat Caruso, Peter Milkovich (Cedric Vaz).
Article extracted from this publication >> February 23, 1990
