GNIEZNO: Pakistan confirmed its semi-final position after losing a close match against France 5-6 in the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup held in Gniezno, Poland on Wednesday.
France topped Pool B with a third straight win against Pakistan. The Olympic hosts struck first in the 7th minute with Victor Charlet scoring from a penalty corner. Rogeau Blaise followed up with a field goal in the 14th minute, putting France ahead 2-0 by the end of the first quarter.
There was no coordination at the back as Gaspard Baumgarten made it 0-3 in the 23rd minute. Two minutes later, Charlet got his second through another penalty corner ensuring France’s dominance in the game.
Pakistan in the 26th minute led to a penalty stroke that was converted with ease by Abu Mahmood. Suddenly, the French were not as organized as they were before, allowing Pakistan to get under their skin.
A penalty corner in the 29th minute saw Sufyan Khan’s initial shot saved only for Murtaza Yaqoob to score the rebound.
The third quarter was all France again as Charlet delivered from the penalty corner yet again with an emphatic finish for his hat-trick in the 39th minute. Pakistan responded in the first minute of the final quarter thanks to Ashraf Rana Waheed who finished a superb ball from Amad Butt, who found him from a long way out. Pakistan continued to threaten Les Bleus and Butt was sensational in the build-up for the fourth, as Rehman Abdul made it 4-5 in the 52nd minute.
Pakistan were all over France and a penalty corner in the 56th minute made it 5-5 as Hannan Shahid reacted quickly after Mahmood’s initial shot was saved. Everyone believed the comeback was complete, but Pakistan switched off and Charlet, who started the scoring, finished it with another penalty corner.
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