Four-Nation Junior Hockey Tournament: Pakistan beat Japan 4-2 in opener

Staff Report

LAHORE: Pakistan defeated Japan 4-2 in the opening match of the 4-Nation Junior Hockey Tournament at the National Hockey Stadium here on Monday. Pakistan were leading 1-0 at half time.

Pakistan, having services of those players who also played for the senior side, were not able perform extra-ordinarily against a weak Japanese side. Led by Olympian Shakeel Abbasi, the home side struggled to put up a good show and lacked coordination. Pakistan opened the account in the 11th minute through Shakeel after benefiting from a mid field move. The hosts missed many scoring chances in the first half. Japan displayed strong opposition in the second half and netted two goals while Pakistan slammed three goals.

The touring side leveled the game in the 38th minute through Yoshiro Sugai, who sounded the board after getting a pass from a right flank move. Pakistan went ahead in the following minutes through a penalty corner. Imran Warsi put the goal in the nets. Tariq Aziz made it 3-1 with 44th minute goal as Muhammad Akhtar gave him a superb pass. The Japanese side continued their quest for goals by launching attacks and narrowed the lead in the 54th minute off their third penalty corner through Kei Kawakami. Pakistan showed some improvement in the dying moments of the game and widened the lead 4-2 to emerge victorious.

Today’s matches:

Japan vs South Africa

Pakistan vs India.

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