AMSTELVEEN (Kashmir English): Pakistan and Wales drew a match 3-3 in the Pool D match of the ongoing FIH Hockey World Cup at the Wagener Hockey in Amstelveen, Netherlands, on Monday.
Following the result, Pakistan is now at the bottom of the group table after losing its first match against England in the group, and its chances of reaching the next stage have also been limited.
Pakistan started the match bright before Wales responded strongly in the second quarter. In the third minute, Abdul Rehman scored a goal with excellent aerial work along the baseline to give Pakistan the lead.
Wales came back in the second quarter after Pakistan’s Sufyan Khan received a yellow card. Wales took full advantage of the opportunity and scored twice to overturn the deficit.
Gareth Furlong scored with a powerful hit from a penalty corner, and Rhys Bradshaw scored another goal about 30 seconds later to give Wales a 2-1 lead.
Pakistan continued to apply pressure and earned a series of penalty corners, but Wales’ defence managed to withstand the pressure and protect its narrow lead.
In the fourth quarter, Sufyan Khan made a comeback and scored a penalty corner to level the score at 2-2.
A deflection from Hanan Shahid’s ball then gave Pakistan a three-two lead, but Gareth Furlong scored his second goal from a penalty stroke to level the score at 3-3.
After the draw, Pakistan and Wales have one point each from their two matches in Pool D and are both in the running to make it to the second round.
Pakistan lost its first match 4-1 to England, while Wales were beaten 3-1 by India on Saturday.
Wales will now face world number three England in their final pool match on Wednesday, while Pakistan will face arch-rivals India on the same day.
