BHUBANESWAR - An impressive England demolished Pakistan 8-2 in their second Pool A match to register their best-ever win in the history of the FIH Champions Trophy at the Kalinga Stadium Sunday. Tom Boon slammed in a last-gasp penalty corner to help Belgium force a dramatic 4-4 draw from world number one Australia.
England dished out a scintillating performance in the opening two quarters and pumped in as many as five goals to child play with the hapless Pakistanis. Such was their dominance and control over the match that England scored seven field goals against just one through penalty corners. The 8-2 victory is England's best-ever in the elite eight-nation event, bettering their 5-1 win over Spain in 1987.
Today's win is also England's biggest ever victory over Pakistan in Champions Trophy history, the previous best being a 2-0 triumph in 1999. England got off the blocks through Mark Gleghorne's (15th minute) tough from close range before Nick Catlin made it 2-0 with a powerful hit two minutes later.
Exactly two minutes later, David Condon got a beautiful touch to Tim Whiteman's cross to register England's third goal before skipper Barry Middleton (24th) and Ashley Jackson (26th) also scored to give their side a commanding 5-0 lead at the lemon break. After the change of ends, Sam Ward (45th) scored his third goal of the tournament with a lovely finish to Adam Dixon's pass. Alastair Brogdon (48th) then increased England's lead to 7-0 with a diving effort before M Arslan Qadir (57th) got a consolation goal for Pakistan three minutes from full time. There were more goals in store as Chris Griffiths (59th) scored England eighth goal of the match before Muhammad Irfan (60th) converted a penalty corner on the final hooter.
With two wins from as many games, England are atop Pool A, while Pakistan lost both the matches they played in the tournament so far. England had stunned world champions Australia 3-1 in their opening game, while Pakistan lost 1-2 against Belgium.
Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh said the better fitness and speed of European teams were the main causes of his team's two back-to-back defeats. "We Asians just can't match the power of the Europeans," the former international said. "This tournament will be a good learning experience for my boys."
Australia, who have won the last five Champions Trophy titles, appeared headed for an easy victory over Belgium when they ran up a 3-0 lead by the 21st minute. But the fast-improving Belgians, ranked fourth in the world, scored twice in quick succession to make it 2-3 at half-time.
Flynn Ogilvie scored his first international goal to extend the Kookaburras' lead to 4-2 in the 37th minute, but John-John Dohmen narrowed the margin for Belgium soon after. The determined Belgians forced a series of penalty corners in the last quarter and were rewarded with just three seconds remaining in the match when Boon recovered a miscued drag-flick after a penalty corner and smashed in the equaliser.
Belgium have four points from two games. The new-look Kookaburras, rebuilding after the retirement of veterans Liam de Young and Rob Hammond earlier this year and missing the injured duo of Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles, were left with just one point.
The Netherlands produced a performance of speed and precision to outdo Germany’s fresh-faced side 4-1 (3-0) to take the lead in Pool B going into their final group game. The Dutch were in cruise in control by half-time, building a 3-0 lead. Constantijn Jonker got the first with a reverse stick finish from the top of the circle after Robbert Kemperman’s exquisite through-ball on 11 minutes. Germany had their chances in the second quarter, notably from Jonas Gomoll’s trickery while Mats Grambusch drew the best from the Dutch goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann. Moritz Furste saved a corner flick on the line but the Oranje were 2-0 ahead when Diede van Puffelen scored his second goal in two games from close range from a left wing attack. Rogier Hofman’s thunderous shot made it 3-0 at half-time and that is how it remained through the third period as Stockmann made another great stop to keep his clean sheet intact. And it was 4-0 with nine minutes left when Jeroen Herzberger simply finished off a pacy attack, touching in Seve van Ass’s backhand cross. Florian Fuchs pulled one back in impudent fashion with five minutes left but it proved mere consolation. It secured a second successive win for the Dutch who lead Pool B overnight with six points.
Argentina, who were 2-1 down in the third quarter against India, scored three times through Juan Lopez, Agustin Mazzilli and Joseph Menini to hand the hosts 4-2 defeat which was their second in a row. It was a first win for the Pan-American champions, who had lost to the Netherlands on the opening day.
India were beaten by Germany in their first match.
The last round in the preliminary stage will be played on Tuesday after a day's rest. The group stage determines the line-up for the knock-out rounds that will be contested by all eight sides from December 11. The final will be played on December 14.
Results
England 8 2 Pakistan
Australia 4 4 Belgium
Netherlands 4 1 Germany
Argentina 4 2 India