Belgium continued their winning streak against Pakistan with a 4-2 win in the second hockey Test match at Dragon Hockey Club Ground here Sunday. Belgium led 3-0 at half time.
Belgium had beaten Pakistan 5-3 in Azlan Shah Cup last month followed by their 3-2 victory in the first Test here on Saturday.
On a sunny afternoon and in front of nearly five thousand spectators, Pakistan were penalized for giving too much space and ball possession to the charging Belgians in the first period. There was a huge void between the deep defense and the midfield which allowed the Belgians to dictate terms of the encounter according to their plans. Zeeshan Ashraf and Muhammad Ateeq's proclivity of positioning themselves too deep and the midfield Muhammad Javaid, Muhammad Saqlain and Muhammad Kamran moving up the front with the frontline showed ample defensive vulnerability that the Belgians exploited to the hilt.
Hence from such a flaw Belgians were in front in the 10th minute when striker Thomas Briels' harmless try from an acute angle slithered past goalkeeper Salman Akbar who had replaced Nasir Ahmed for this contest. Belgians supremacy was never in doubt in this period as Pakistanis struggled to counter it. There was total lack of coordination between the forwards and the midfield and the attacks were haphazard but without success. Under tremendous pressure Pakistan had conceded four penalty corners within ten minutes. Gregory Gucassoff fired in on the third to double the lead. Briefly, Pakistan did return to the attack but opportunities were missed by Shakeel Abbasi and Rehan Butt. Belgium stretched the lead further in the 24th minute from a Jerome Dekeyser's penalty corner conversion. Just at the stroke of half time, Pakistan earned their first penalty corner but Muhammad Ateeq's feeble push was padded away by goalkeeper Cedric De Greve.
From their impregnable position, Belgium returned to the attack on resumption and within two minutes Gregory Gucassoff drag-flicked with clinical precision, his second goal of the match. Chief coach Zakauddin had replaced Salman Akbar with Nasir Ahmed in the goal and in fact that stemmed the Belgian rampage allowing the Pakistanis to go on the offensive which they did. While the Belgians retreated Pakistan launched their offensive from the right flank with right half Muhammad Javaid playing an aggressive role. Pakistan reduced the deficit in the 44th minute from Muhammad Ateeq's unstoppable drag-flick penalty corner conversion yet squandered away three more penalty corners due to lacking more in intent and purpose. Abbasi's fierce shot hit the post but Rehan Butt sounded the boards eight minutes from the final hooter. Belgium 6 penalty corners while Pakistan got 5.
Source: PHF
