Juniors Hockey team holds SA to 3-3 draw

KARACHI—Pakistan Junior hockey team hold Olympic qualifier South Africa seniors to 3-3 draw in a well fought encounter at Durban Thursday, according to message received here on Friday.
Both the teams were locked 3-3 at half time while the second period went scoreless.
According to the information received here Pakistan Juniors put up better performance than the South African seniors who have qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games. Prolific scorer spearhead Muhammad Haseem Khan shot Pakistan into lead in the second minute of the first half from a brilliantly combined move. Few minutes later South Africa brought the two sides at even keel with a field goal.
Midway through this period Pakistan earned a penalty stroke which Kashif Ali converted with aplomb to put his side again in front. Pakistani defense were lacking in confidence and that weakness was well exploited by the hosts. Taking advantage of a loose tackle, South Africa restored parity from their second field goal.
Pakistan forwards were in excellent form and along with the midfield were exerting pressure on the South African defense. A move from the right flank earned Pakistan a penalty corner which deep defender Muhammad Ateeq converted with a powerful flick. However, the South Africans fought back to reduce the deficit just before half time.
Both the teams had even exchanges in the second half and failed to break the ice. “Our defense was sluggish in the first half, “Chief Coach Jehangir Butt said after the match, We gave too much room to the South Africans and they took full advantage. May be the boys were tired because of the long and tiresome bus travel from Johannesburg to Durban which almost took eight hours. But in the second period our defenders put up a resolute fight and I am satisfied with the performance.”
Pak forwards were in excellent form and along with the midfield were exerting pressure on the opponents and a move from the right flank earned Pakistan a penalty corner which deep defender Muhammad Ateeq converted with a powerful flick.
However, the South Africans fought back to reduce the deficit just before half time.
Both the teams had even exchanges in the second half and failed to break the ice.
“ Our defense was sluggish in the first half” admitted Pak teams chief coach Jehangir Butt. “We gave too much room to the South Africans and they took full advantage. Certainly the boys were tired because of the long and tiresome bus travel from Johannesburg to Durban which almost took eight hours. But in the second period our defenders put up a resolute fight and I am satisfied with the performance”, he added.

—Agencies