Pak hockey team fails to shine in Gold Coast

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan tumbled out of the medals race in the hockey tournament of the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast (Australia) even before playing their last match against Malaysia on Wednesday (today).

In crucial matches on Tuesday, England edged out Wales 3-2 while India got better of Malaysia 2-1 to qualify for the semi-finals from Pool B. This is a rare occasion that Pakistan have failed to reach the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games that does not include teams like Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Argentina and South Korea.

England have beaten Malaysia 7-0, played a 2-2 draw against Pakistan and won 3-2 against Wales. They have seven points from three matches. India also have seven points from three games. They beat Wales 4-3, played a 2-2 draw against Pakistan and on Tuesday defeated Malaysia 2-1.

Even if Pakistan go on to beat Malaysia, they will end up with six points — not enough to take them to the last-four stage in the 10-team competition.The decision of Wednesday’s match, however, will determine for which place (from 5-10) Pakistan will be play on April 13.

The worst thing in a tournament like this is playing a draw against any team as it earns just one point. In contrast, a victory gives a team three points. Pakistan’s three draws have proved fatal for their chances of moving into the semi-finals.

It was surprising to note that team manager Hasan Sardar in a television interview was adamant that Pakistan could reach the semi-finals if they beat Malaysia by a big margin, without knowing that even a big victory would not be enough if England and India won their penultimate matches on Tuesday.

Besides the Pakistan-Malaysia match, India and England face each other on Wednesday to determine which team finishes at the top of Pool B and avoid a possible clash against favourites Australia in the semi-finals.Agencies add: England came from two goals down at half-time to beat Wales and book a place in the semi-finals.

Sam Ward proved the hero with a hat-trick, but England were made to work extremely hard by their British rivals before they could celebrate.Wales broke the deadlock as Luke Hawker diverted Ioan Wall’s cross past Harry Gibson. Ben Francis doubled the lead on the stroke of half time from another short corner, with George Pinner called upon to make a save from Dale Hutchinson five minutes into the second half.

England rallied and Condon saw a shot saved by Kettle, before Ward deflected Lian Sanford’s pass beyond Fortnam. Ward fired home a corner to level, after co-captain Phil Roper had gone close, and England dominated in the closing stages as they searched for a winner.

Francis had a deflection saved by Gibson, while Lewis Prosser’s goal-line block denied James Gall, before Ward fired a shot on the turn past Fortnam with three minutes remaining.

India qualified for the semi-finals after defeating Malaysia 2-1 in a Pool B match. Harmanpreet Singh (3rd, 44th minutes) converted a couple of penalty corner while the experienced Faizal Saari (16th) reduced the deficit for Malaysia immediately after the start of the second quarter.

India were off to an excellent start as Harmanpreet powered home the first penalty corner of the match to give his team an early lead. Buoyed by the lead, the Indians dominated possession and kept the Malaysian defenders on their toes with a constant stream of attacks.

Forced to defend in numbers Malaysia focussed on keeping out the Indian attacks and hitting back with the occasional counter-attack.Malaysia found the equaliser immediately after the start of the second quarter as a fast move down the right saw Faisal beat the Indian defence with an excellent run before receiving a defence splitting pass which found him in a one to one situation with India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.

Faisal did well to control the ball before beating Sreejesh with a superb finish from a tight angle.Harmanpreet found the decisive goal in the closing stages of the third quarter when he converted a penalty corner with an excellent placing into the top left corner that beat the Malaysian custodian with its power and precision.

Gold medal favourites Australia clinched a spot in the semi-finals after cruising to a 4-0 win over Canada.The host nation did all their damage in the first quarter on Tuesday, taking full advantage of a Canadian side that lost midfielder Mark Pearson for ten minutes for a poor challenge.

Australian forward Dylan Wotherspoon scored twice in as many minutes not long after, before Jeremy Hayward added a third from a penalty corner just before the first break.The 11th-ranked Canadians stemmed the flow after quarter time but failed to make inroads against a Kookaburras defence that has conceded a tournament-best one goal in three matches.

Canada’s best chance came midway through the third quarter however Balraj Panesar’s flick hit the crossbar and bounced just inside the goal line.Trent Mitton completed the rout with a reverse hit midway through the fourth quarter.