KUALA LUMPUR, 29 May 2005 — Pakistan showed their class in an impressive 3-2 triumph over South Korea, reasserting their status as one of the favorites for the 2005 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup trophy here at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
Living up to their reputation as a mercurial side, Pakistan bounced back from a sluggish 2-1 win over New Zealand by beating Korea - a team that stunned Olympic champions Australia before ending with a 3-3 draw the other day. Young short corner specialists Mohammad Imran, Shakeel Abbasi and Akhtar Ali, all members of the Pakistan Under-21 squad, were the scorers for the greenshirts.
The win enabled Pakistan to overtake defending champions Australia to become leaders on the points table, but more importantly it gave the young contenders a big doze of confidence.
Pakistan scored the earliest goal of the tournament by forcing a short corner in the very first minute which was converted by Mohammad Imran with a high flick that was too good for the Korean goalkeeper Dong Sik-ko.
Pakistan outclassed the Koreans during the most part of the fist session with a series of attacks from both flanks.
However, it were the Koreans who managed to earn the equalizer against the run of play when Seong Jung-kang converted a short corner in the 13th minute. Pakistan were quick to respond as striker Shakeel Abbasi scored off a move from the right flank to make it 2-1 just two minutes later.
Pakistan took complete control of the proceedings and extended their lead in the 30th minute when an unmarked Akhter Ali got the ball in the 25-yard area and dodged a defender and the goalie to score with a powerful strike.
Pakistan ended the first session with a 3-1 lead.
The Koreans made a forceful recovery in the second half reducing the lead in the 43rd minute through a short corner strike by Jong Hyun-jang.
Pakistan were reduced to ten men when Akhtar Ali was sent off to the sinbin for a rough tackle just a couple of minutes later.
Korea raised the momentum of the game but suffered a blow in the 47th minute when their top short corner striker Sung Hoon-yon got a nasty blow on his face from the stick of Pakistan skipper Mohammad Saqlain and was stretchered off to the hospital.
He received five stitches on his face.
