LONDON - Pakistan kept its reputation intact when it avoided a much-expected losing start as they drew the opening match one all against a better ranked Spain here on the blue pitch of the River Bank hockey arena on Monday.
Almost a packed stadium applauded Pakistan more for its artistry than the robustness of their opponent. Whenever Pakistanis made an eye pleasing combined move the spectators applauded it. Pakistan will play its next match against Argentina on August 1. After a barren first half, Pakistan took the lead in the 48th minute through Rehan Butt on a pass from Haseem Khan. Spain counter attacked with a fast move that brought the equaliser for the Spaniards through Pau Quemada on a field effort.
Soon after the push off, the possession of the ball mostly remained with the Spaniards but it was Pakistan which dominated the half during which it missed three gilt edged chances and the two penalty corners unfortunately could not be converted although the pushes from Sohail Abbas were perfectly good.
Pakistan’s first serious move came shortly after Spain got its first penalty corner which was saved on the goalline by M Irfan. In the counter attack Pakistanis moved quickly in opponent’s danger zone and almost scored. But the cross from the right went a begging. Later, twice in quick successions, M Rizwan came within the sight of hitting the board but on both the times the opportunities were missed.
Pakistanis gave no impression of being in any manner not good on playing on the blue pitch. It seems that unlike the green astro turf, the blue pitch need less water and moving with the ball looks less cumbersome as it looked on the heavily-watered green pitch. Blue pitch looks faster than its green brother. As was expected, the Spaniards started on a fast pace. Pakistan had always fallen to the tricks of European opponents who start furiously to unsettle the slow moving but technically high Pakistanis but they survived the opening salvo from Spain that lasted for ten minutes.
At this stage skipper Sohail used his experience to relieve the pressure and started scooping the ball into the Spain’s areas that had good effect. The Spaniards went on to defence and for a while forget to attack. Pakistan started with a line-up that had no place for Rehan known for his pinch scoring. The team management gave the impression that he might be used later on when the heat is turned on the opponents.
At the post match media conference both, captain Sohail and manager Akhtar Rasool looked relieved because Pakistan had not lost any point but won one. A winning start would have been better, former Olympian Akhtar Rasool said and added Pakistan would try to get all the points in next matches as Pakistan needed them to reach the semi-final. Sohail said in competition like Olympics the teams need maturity and said the senior had done fine in the opening match. They would certainly improve in the next matches, he said.
AFP adds: Captain Jamie Dwyer scored a hat-trick as Australia launched their Olympic campaign with a thumping 6-0 victory over South Africa. Dwyer's three strikes helped him equal the Australian record of 179 international goals held by Mark Hager, who is coach of the New Zealand team at these Olympics.
Dwyer opened the scoring in the 16th minute for Australia with a penalty stroke after he was brought down by a defender inside the circle. Dwyer then set up the second Australian goal two minutes before half-time with a pass that Matthew Butturini deflected in. Christopher Ciriello converted a penalty corner in the 46th minute before Dwyer fired in a penalty corner in the 48th and then forced another penalty stroke that he converted in the 58th. Glenn Turner rounded off the Australian scoring with a field goal in the 62nd minute.
Yu Hyo-Sik scored two field goals for South Korea against New Zealand. "I'm excited about scoring twice as I've been waiting for a goal on the international stage for a long time," said Yu, who deflected diagonal crosses past New Zealand goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex.
Robert van der Horst and Rod Weusthof put the Dutch 2-0 ahead against India but Dharamvir clawed one back for India from a post rebound and Shivendra three minutes later. But the Dutch converted two out of two penalty corners with Mink van der Weerden flicking a snorter for the decisive goal.