Goals from veterans Waseem Ahmed and Sohail Abbas earned a narrow 2-1 triumph for the top-seeded Pakistanis, who were desperate for a win over Ireland following a stunning 2-4 loss against minnows France last week.
Pakistan were 2-0 up at half time but had to survive several anxious moments before booking a place in Sunday’s final where they once against face hosts Ireland.
“It was a tough match and I’m pleased that my boys played well under pressure,” Khawaja Junaid, Pakistan’s manager told Arab News from Dublin on Saturday.
“We are on a training tour of Europe and want to win tough matches in the lead up to next year’s Olympic Games,” added Junaid, a former Olympian.
Three-time Olympic champions Pakistan are eyeing a forceful showing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London after failing to win any medal in their last three Olympic outings in Sydney, Athens and Beijing.
From Ireland, Pakistan will fly for Netherlands to feature in the four-nation Rabo Trophy that will feature European powerhouses Germany, Great Britain and the Dutch.
Meanwhile, there was some bad news for hockey buffs in Pakistan on Saturday when the country’s under-18 team fell to Korea in the semifinals of the Junior Asia Cup in Singapore.
Pakistan, the defending champions, began the tournament as the firm favorites with huge wins over minnows like Brunei, Singapore and Kazakhstan.
However, the Green Shirts fell short when it mattered the most. They were unable to match the speed and precision of the Koreans in Saturday’s semifinals. They were leading 1-0 at half time through a goal by Waseem Abbas. But the Koreans struck twice in the second session to clinch a place in Sunday’s final. Pakistan will meet Singapore in the playoff for the third place.
