SALTA, Argentina: Pakistan suffered a huge setback as hosts Argentina beat them 3-1 in Champions Challenge Cup hockey tournament to dent their chances of a semifinal berth at the Popeye baseball club here on Tuesday.
Pakistan are now in a must-win situation as they take on South Africa on Thursday (today). Pakistan beat Canada 2-1 in their opening match and now need a clear win against South Africa to prevent elimination from the event.
Argentina routed South Africa 6-2 and has qualified for the semifinals. It was Pakistan’s third successive defeat at the hands of Argentina in international hockey. The South American country beat them 1-0 in the World Cup in 2006 in Germany and followed it by 2-1 win in 2007 in the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
The home team jolted the former world champions with the first minute goal scored by Facundo Callioni who beat the entire Pakistani side with a long scoop in a front of a full house under cloudy conditions. The Argentinean side folded the first half with a 2-0 lead; Pedro Ibarra scoring off a short corner in the 31st minute.
In the 52nd minute, the hosts made it 3-0 to end hopes of a possible Pakistan comeback. Pedro Ibarra scoring his second via an indirect conversion drill. Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Sajjad Anwar, Muhammad Irfan and Haseem went close to scoring a goal but wasted their chances.
Pakistan defender Fareed Ahmed was taken to hospital when a ball hit by a rival defender struck on his left hand and left him with a fracture. Fareed has been ruled out of action for the remaining part of the event.
Sohail converted the fourth short corner in the 66th minute to give some respectability to the score-line but missed the fifth short corner a minute before the close of the play. In other matches of the day, India beat China 4-1, New Zealand outclassed Belgium 4-1 and South Africa humbled Canada 3-1. With two defeats in a row, China is out of semifinal contention and one of New Zealand, Belgium and South Africa will move to the semifinals after another round of pool matches.
Pakistan are now in a must-win situation as they take on South Africa on Thursday (today). Pakistan beat Canada 2-1 in their opening match and now need a clear win against South Africa to prevent elimination from the event.
Argentina routed South Africa 6-2 and has qualified for the semifinals. It was Pakistan’s third successive defeat at the hands of Argentina in international hockey. The South American country beat them 1-0 in the World Cup in 2006 in Germany and followed it by 2-1 win in 2007 in the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
The home team jolted the former world champions with the first minute goal scored by Facundo Callioni who beat the entire Pakistani side with a long scoop in a front of a full house under cloudy conditions. The Argentinean side folded the first half with a 2-0 lead; Pedro Ibarra scoring off a short corner in the 31st minute.
In the 52nd minute, the hosts made it 3-0 to end hopes of a possible Pakistan comeback. Pedro Ibarra scoring his second via an indirect conversion drill. Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Sajjad Anwar, Muhammad Irfan and Haseem went close to scoring a goal but wasted their chances.
Pakistan defender Fareed Ahmed was taken to hospital when a ball hit by a rival defender struck on his left hand and left him with a fracture. Fareed has been ruled out of action for the remaining part of the event.
Sohail converted the fourth short corner in the 66th minute to give some respectability to the score-line but missed the fifth short corner a minute before the close of the play. In other matches of the day, India beat China 4-1, New Zealand outclassed Belgium 4-1 and South Africa humbled Canada 3-1. With two defeats in a row, China is out of semifinal contention and one of New Zealand, Belgium and South Africa will move to the semifinals after another round of pool matches.
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