KARACHI, 6 July 2005 — Pakistan’s Junior World Cup dream was over yesterday after a bruising 1-1 draw against Argentina that threw the former champions out of the race for a place in the semifinals in Rotterdam.
In a must-win situation, Pakistan failed to capitalize on their scoring prowess and just managed to snatch a point from their crucial game against Argentina.
Pakistan led 1-0 through a 58th minute short-corner strike from substitute penalty-corner marksman Khalid Mahmood but a drag flick from Lucas Vila just four minutes later ended Pakistan’s hopes of regaining the title.
Now with just four points under their belt, even a big win over Malaysia in their final second round game today cannot give them a berth in the last-four stage of the 16-nation competition.
After scoring unimpressive wins over Belgium (3-1) and Chile (2-1), Pakistan flirted with disaster as they lost to Australia (2-3) and Germany (0-2).
After the two successive defeats, Pakistan needed a lifeline, something they could have achieved by beating Argentina. But once again their much-touted attack flopped and their highly-rated short corner specialists were also unable to deliver the goods, paving the way for the 1979 champions’ exit from the medals’ race.
It was a disappointing performance from the Pakistanis who in spite of being the sixth seeds began the tournament as one of the favorites for the coveted title.
They had come to Rotterdam after winning back-to-back international junior titles in Lahore and Kuala Lumpur earlier this season. But in the Junior World Cup, the Pakistanis have so far looked jaded, unable to justify their status as one of the leading title contenders.
They have struggled in front of goal in the tournament and this once again showed in the make-or-break tie against Argentina.
Pakistan’s forwards led by skipper and fancied striker Shakeel Abbasi were completely toothless when it came to scoring and that was one of main reasons behind the national Under-21 team’s stunning failure in Rotterdam.
Even their defense was off color against the South American champions and conceded 11 short corners in the match.
Initially, it seemed that lady luck was favoring Pakistan when Argentina earned and wasted a penalty stroke in the seventh minute.
Argentina, finalists in the previous edition in 2001, earned the stroke when a Lucas Vila short corner strike found the foot of a Pakistani defender on goal line. Lucas Rossi took the stroke but his push hit high up on the goalpost.
Argentina remained the more dominant side during the remainder of the first half but were let down by their strikers’ inability to convert good chances into goals.
Pakistan raised their game in the second session but were bogged down by the sending off of their midfielder Asim Khan in the 46th minute.
They, however, scored against the run of play when a drag flick from Khalid Mahmood flew into the left half of the net.
Pakistan’s joy was short-lived as Argentina struck back without wasting much time as Vila slung a low flick off a short corner to make it 1-1.
The South Americans almost made it 2-1 three minutes from the hooter but Vila’s low flick narrowly missed the target.
The draw helped Argentina increase their tally to eight points. They now need to beat Australia today to assure a place in the semifinals.
Australia are already in the last four after thrashing Germany 7-1 in a Pool F match.
In a classification match for 13-16 places, South Africa outplayed Poland 5-1.
