LONDON - Pakistan fought back from first half one goal deficit to defeat a slow and dull South Korea 3-2 clinching the match winner in the last quarter to finish seventh in the Olympics hockey on Thursday.
Pakistan trailing 2-1 at half time recovered in the second session first through a marvellous goal from Abdul Haseem Khan in the 44th minute to draw level and then M Imran slammed home the winner in 61st minute converting teams’ third penalty-corner .
Earlier after the push off, South Korea dominated the attack and took the lead in the 30th minute through Hye Sung Hyun who put the ball in net from near the left goal post where he was lurking for the ball. It was a just one-touch goal which resulted due to the lapse of a Pakistan defender who could not clear the ball as it went to Hyun.
South Koreans are well known for poaching the goal which they exactly did by getting one. Hyun was just waiting in the shadow of the goal post and as the ball came he just diverted it into the goal against the run of play.
Pakistan did not lose any time and almost within seconds slammed the first equaliser through a pass from Shakeel Abbasi who gave a goal labelled cross inside the circle to M Waqas to score the equaliser.
However, South Korea once again went ahead when Hyun got his second goal minutes before half time. Hyun placed the ball in the back of the net in the 33rd minute following a goal mouth scramble. During a Korean attack a crowd of attackers and defenders were in front of the goal jostling for the ball. As Pakistanis tried to clear the ball and South Koreans attacker tried to push the ball into the net. Finally, the ball was placed high into the goal. Pakistan skipper Sohail Abbas went for the mandatory video referral which went against his team.