KARACHI
\nPakistan junior hockey team, aka the Colts, defeated Western Australia (WA) 2-0 in their last play-off match of the Australian U18 Hockey Championship in Hobart on Thursday and qualified for the tournament\u2019s final.
\nPerhaps a bit fatigued by constant matches, Pakistan were uncharacteristically slow off the blocks against WA, allowing their opponents penalty corners in each of the 13th, 17th and 18th minutes of the game.
\nTo their good fortune, however, the hosts failed to capitalise on any of the chances.
\nHaving blown their third chance, WA\u2019s profligacy was promptly punished in the 20th minute as the Pakistani offence launched a high-speed counter-attack that saw Ali Aziz finish a beautiful team move.
\nDown 1-0, WA upped the ante and bossed possession but couldn\u2019t find their way past the Pakistan players, who had chances of their own, in the 26th and 33rd minute, to double or even triple their lead but couldn\u2019t.
\nFollowing the half-time break, WA came out all guns blazing, testing the Pakistani defence with five shots, though none translated into goals.
\nNot at all perturbed by the constant barrage of offence being thrown at them, the Colts, in the 43rd minute, nonchalantly raced to the other end and calmly scored their second, this time Shahzaib Khan doing the honours.
\nThe score remained unchanged for the remainder of the game as Pakistan triumphed 2-0 on the day.
\nAs expected, Pakistan coach Kamran Ashraf hand nothing but praise for his charges.
\n\u201cThey have improved in every match. The skills they have shown are tremendous; everyone here is lauding their efforts,\u201d said Ashraf. \u201cThe coaches of other teams are also praising the fitness and skills of our boys.\u201d
\nRegarding the championship, he added, \u201cAlthough it is Australia\u2019s domestic event, it is like an international event for the boys. All the players of Australia\u2019s national junior team are playing in this competition, and of course New South Wales is the toughest of them all.
\n\u201cThis tournament has not only boosted the confidence of our boys but has also given them some much-needed exposure. Now, we will try to win the final.\u201d
\nIn Saturday\u2019s deciding match, Pakistan will face New South Wales, the only side to defeat Pakistan in the 10-team tournament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARACHI Pakistan junior hockey team, aka the Colts, defeated Western Australia (WA) 2-0 in their last play-off match of the Australian U18 Hockey Championship in Hobart on Thursday and qualified for the tournament\u2019s final. Perhaps a bit fatigued by constant matches, Pakistan were uncharacteristically slow off the blocks against WA, allowing their opponents penalty corners […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-17027","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n