DUBLIN, June 16 (APP): All time reliable right winger Rehan Butt scored a penalty corner goal two minutes before the close to set up Pakistan’s title 3-2 win over Olympic qualifiers Canada in the final of a four nation tournament here on Sunday night.
Infact the green shirts came from behind to equaliser at 2-2 before being 1-0 at break as Canada caused much panic for a much fancied former masters of the game by challenging their authority making it 1-1 and then established the edge at 2-1. Rehan, declared best players of the tournament scored twice to live up to the reputations of one of world’s finest right winger.
With this victory Pak team ended a title dead lock. Their last win was in July last year in a 4-nation tournament in Moscow.
Pak team maintained its style of striking victories in the event by bouncing back after conceding goals,the way they did against host and defending champions of the tournament, Ireland whom they beat 4-2 and then played a 3-3 draw against Britain followed by another 2-2 draw against Canada.
Rehan was the saviour in a match in which Pakistan fought back with greater zeal to come out from the jaws of the defeat.
Missing in action remained the main worry of Pakistani forwards who
as usual made minor mistakes while in possession of the ball in the striking
circle and Muahmmad Waqas failed to beat the onrushing goalkeeper Michael Mahmood
in the very first minute when Shakeel Abassi’s straight pass beat three rival players.
Pak shot into lead in the 5th minute when Muhammad Imran’s superb push landed
in the roof nets and a packed house dominated by Pakistani expatriates burst into
cheers. Before going into the second half Canada forced two short corners but failed.
The beginning of the second session brought misery for Pakistan as Canada levelled at 1-1 through Paul Wettlaufer who scored off the third short corner.
Then onward the match turned into a battle and Pakistani forwards went all out
to set a flow of attacks with both flanks ably assisted by the spearhead Abbasi.But things turned bad to worst as Canada made it 2-1 in 47th minute off the 4th penalty corner through Wayne Fernandes and Pakistan helplessly watched an action packed come back of Canada to strike two goals in 9 minutes.
Pakistan caught under clouds of depression made a desperate mid field move in the Shabbir Khan found the net with a reverse flick from zero angle and the Canadian custodian and a host of defenders in a state of shock watched the ball landing in the post above their heads in the 53rd minutes.
The equaliser put Pakistan back into the game and their repeated attacks and constant penetration rocked the Canadians and they changed time to time match plan to stop aggressive forwards but failed.
With time tickling away and crowd still cheering to see a silver line on clouds, Rehan did an excellent job in a rare display of set piece conversion drill off the 4th short corner to seal the victory.
Silence prevailed in the arena when Canada revived a slight hope to level getting their 5th penalty corner one minute before the close but they ran out of luck as the ball struck in to the left pool and Pak players jumped in jubilation to mark their success with crowd invaded the field to greet their players.
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