LONDON - Encouraged by a huge supportive home crowd waving Union Jacks and playing on their own home soil, the host Great Britain slammed Pakistan 4-1 in an important match of pool A here on Friday.
The defeat would make Pakistan’s chances to reach the semi-final extremely difficult. Two teams from each pool move into the top four positions. What Pakistan needed from this encounter was either a win or a draw to remain on course for the semi-finals but a thorough defeat has spoiled their chances to go anywhere near the semi-final position.
Defending champions Germany and the Netherlands also posted their third straight wins in dazzling style, as Argentina rallied from two down to hold world title-holders Australia Friday. Germany outplayed India 5-2 and the Dutch coasted to a 5-1 victory over New Zealand to consolidate their position for semi-final berths from Pool B. Netherlands are top in the group with a superior goal difference. Australia stay top of Pool A with seven points from three matches despite the 2-2 draw with Argentina. The world number one team have a better goal difference than Great Britain, who also have seven points while Pakistan sit on four points.
The star of Britain’s victory was Ashley Jackson who got two goals first in the 49th minute and later in the 67th minute through a penalty corner. Earlier, three minutes after push off, James Tindall gave Great Britain an early lead through a field goal. Jonty Clarke doubled the home advantage in the 26th minute through a field goal and later, Ashley added his two goals.
Pakistan got the consolation goal in the dying minutes of the contest. Sohail Abbas converted it to make the score 4-1 in favour of the winners. Pakistan wasted their chances in the first session immediately after conceding the first goal. They got enough openings to take a shot at the goal but none of the three chances that could have given them the goal were squandered. Britain retained clear two goal advantage they earned in the first session and that made a big difference. Pakistan play their fourth match of the pool against South Africa tomorrow (Sunday).
Pakistan started the match as favourites. However, Pakistanis were playing against Great Britain on blue pitch on which the host team had more experience of playing. With home crowd thronging the stadium to support what here is called Team GB and supporting it. Great Britain will have stronger psychological advantage. Pakistan should continue to play as they had done against Spain and Argentina.
However, when the match began under brilliant sunshine, Great Britain showed more planning .The host began on attacking style throwing Pakistan on the defensive. The host team moved mostly from the right flank where Pakistan defense look the most brittle. Time and again, Pakistan defense was breached and whenever it happened, the Pakistan goal came under huge pressure.
Group A standings
Team M W T L GF GA GD Pts
Australia 3 2 1 0 13 2 11 7
Great Britain 3 2 1 0 10 4 6 7
Pakistan 3 1 1 1 4 5 -1 4
Argentina 3 0 1 2 3 8 -5 1
Spain 2 0 1 1 1 6 -5 1
South Africa 2 0 1 1 2 8 -6 1