IPOH: Pakistan thrashed Egypt 4-0 at the 18th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Thursday.
Shakeel Abbasi scored the first hat-trick of the tournament, scoring in 18th, 43rd and 67th minutes. Mohammad Imran scored one goal in the 14th minute on a penalty-corner.
The defeat resulted in Egypt’s departure from the tournament. In the other match, former champions India and New Zealand shared points after drawing 2-2 in a crucial match that failed to produce a finalist for Sunday.
Both teams went into the game on four points after two matches. A win for either team on Thursday would have secured a final place, while the loser would then vie for the second slot with hosts Malaysia, who have six points.
The draw means each team will now have to win their remaining match on Saturday, with India playing arch-rivals Pakistan in the first match and New Zealand facing Malaysia.
India and New Zealand need full points from their games on Saturday, while a draw would suffice for the Malaysians.
In the Thursday’s second match, Pakistan beat Egypt 4-0,
After the India-New Zealand match was delayed 75 minutes by a heavy afternoon downpour, New Zealand started promisingly by scoring in the eighth minute with a field goal by Richard Petherick.
The Indians countered with a corner in the 27th minute which saw Sandeep Singh’s direct flick slipping past goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex, for a half-time score of 1-1.
In the second half it was the Indians who held sway and they pushed hard by breaking through the right flank. Another penalty corner in the 48th minute saw Sandeep put them in the lead on 2-1.
In the 63rd minute New Zealand landed the equaliser, with Joseph Barth Holomew scoring a field goal from close range.
‘It was not a good performance at all today and we failed to plug the gaps along the flanks which gave them the attacking opportunities,’ said India coach Harender Singh.
‘It is not over yet and we will go all out to beat Pakistan,’ he said.
Results:
India 2 New Zealand 2
Pakistan 4 Egypt 0
Popularity: 1% [?]
