Japan beat Pakistan to win 3-Nation hockey tournament

LAHORE, Feb 21 (APP):Japan defeated Pakistan 3-2
in an interesting final to win the three-nation hockey
tournament at Muscat’s Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex
on Wednesday.
Two thousand capacity stadium was jam packed
mostly with the Pakistani expats and fast up and down
game was witnessed, said the information made available
here by the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
Japan availed their first penalty corner in the fourth
minute with a deceptive two touch indirect drill. Yamasaki,
standing close to the goal, caressed the ball in with an
extended flat stick.
A quick counter resulted in the second Japanese goal in
the 12th minute after a spate of one touch passes. Pakistani
defence was guilty of poor marking in the circle.
Within two minutes, Pakistan pulled back one when captain
Rizwan Senior’s ball from left side went high in the circle
off a defender’s stick and Arslan Qadir expertly put it in
from near the goal.There was no goal in the second quarter
and Japan led the first half 2-1.
In the second half also, the pattern was mostly the same;
fluent hockey. Japanese displayed planned game with their
attacks coming through swift counters. One such turn over
resulted in the third Japanese goal in the 50th minute.
Down by two goals with just 10 minutes left, Pakistan
worked hard to come back. They had a couple of open chances
and two penalty corners. Off their last PC in the 56th minute
Mubashar Ali’s strong push hit the board on goal keeper’s
right. But time ran out for them.
Scorers, Japan: Koji Yamasaki (4′ off PC), Kazuma
Murata (12′), Hirotaka Wikuri (50′)
Pakistan: Arslan Qadir (14′), Mubashar Ali (56′ off PC).