On Friday, a powerful Pakistan defeated China 6-1 in the fifth-place play-off match of the Asian Champions Trophy Hockey tournament in Chennai. Pakistan’s Muhammad Khan and Muhammad Ammad each scored two goals, while Abdul Shahid and Abdul Rana each scored one. China’s lone goal came from Benhai Chen.
Pakistan played largely junior players in preparation for the Junior World Hockey Championship, while the senior team prepared for the Asian Games in Hangzhou. The Pakistanis effectively won the game in the first quarter. It all started with both sides assaulting.
However, Pakistan took the lead in the ninth minute when Ammad managed to touch the ball in from close range. Muhammad Khan converted a penalty corner in the next minute to double the lead. In the very next minute, courtesy of a penalty corner, he promptly quadrupled the lead.
It didn’t take long for the ‘Men in Green’ to score their fourth goal in the 15th minute, when Shahid fired after receiving an assist from Abdul Rana and Ammad.
China attacked more aggressively after the break, and Chen drew one back from a penalty corner in the 35th minute. While the Pakistanis switched goalkeepers, replacing Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan with Akmal Hussain, the Chinese came close to scoring a couple of times but ultimately failed.
The Chinese maintained their attacking intent as the game entered the fourth quarter. However, in the 52nd minute, a Pakistani PC saw Ammad knock in a looping save from the keeper.
Just three minutes later, Rana scored the sixth goal for the ‘Men in Green’ in a single effort, beating two defenders. The Dragons maintained their focus in the final minutes of the game, but it was too late for them as Pakistan cruised to victory.
