Pakistan defeat Belgium 3-2 and play for Youth Olympic Gold against Australia
Pakistan’s victory over Belgium made them finish the round-robin ranked second. Belgium stay third and play off in the Bronze Medal match, possible opponents are Ghana or Singapore.
The highlight of boys’ day 5 was the encounter between Belgium and Pakistan as the winners qualify for Wednesday’s final. A draw would have been enough for Pakistan to join Australia in the Gold Medal match due to the better goal difference. Both teams started with concentration and tried to avoid mistakes. The match took place mostly in midfield and the spectators did not witness much action in the circles. Muhammad IRFAN took the unexpected lead for Pakistan out of open play. After Muhammad Sultan AMIR tackled Belgian team-captain Dimitri CUVELIER near the base-line, the umpires awarded the first penalty corner of the match. Alexander HENDRICKX’s shot went into the left side of the goal and the score was tied again.
The second half started off in heavy rainfall. Not even one minute was played when Muhammad Arslan QADIR scored the 2-1. The attackers overran the Belgian defence and suddenly QADIR received ball possession in front of goalkeeper Arnaud FLAMAND. HENDRICKX equalised again for Belgium when his penalty corner drag-flick found its way into the net after Syed Kashif SHAH was sent back to the centre for breaking early. Belgium was the more creative side providing varied options late in the second half while Pakistan could only look for counter-attack opportunities. One of them succeeded when QADIR carried the ball all the way down the side-line, entered the circle and slipped a shot under FLAMAND. With ten goals in total QADIR is new top scorer in the boys’ competition. In the 66th minute Belgium replaced goalkeeper FLAMAND by an 11th field player, Antoine LEGRAIN took the goalkeeping privileges. Pushed forward by their supporters Belgium was urgent to score but were unsuccessful.
Belgium v Pakistan 2-3 (1-1)
0-1 15’ Muhammad IRFAN (FG)
1-1 29’ Alexander HENDRICKX (PC)
1-2 36’ Muhammad Arslan QADIR (FG)
2-2 47’ Alexander HENDRICKX (PC)
2-3 58’ Muhammad Arslan QADIR (FG)
Re: Pakistan defeat Belgium 3-2 and play for Youth Olympic Gold against Australia
Pakistan played better but lost again and ended with silver medals!
Australia** boys win Youth Olympic Gold – Silver for Pakistan**
Australia defeated Pakistan 2-1 in an intensive Gold Medal match. The game winning goal was scored by Luke NOBLETT in the 67th minute.
Australia started off with great pace and took immediately control of the game. The young Kookaburras won their first two penalty corners in the 2nd minute but flicker Oscar WOOKEY was denied twice. Australia created many chances but Pakistan’s defence and especially goalkeeper Mazhar ABBAS did an outstanding job and kept Australia out. While the Kookaburras dominated the match, Pakistan looked for opportunities to break through the opponents’ defence. In the 10th minute Pakistan penetrated the Australian circle the first time and Muhammad UMAIR scored out of the blue making Pakistan leading 1-0. Australia kept on pressuring and won another penalty corner which led to a penalty stroke. Team-captain Daniel BEALE took responsibility and went to the 7m mark. His shot into the bottom left was saved brilliantly by goalkeeper ABBAS’s stick.
The beginning of the second half had not much action in the circles as Pakistan played defensively and gave Australia as less space as possible. However the young Kookaburras rolled the pressure on and tied the score in the 49th minute when Dylan WOTHERSPOON’s reverse-stick-side shot found its way into the net. Pakistan gave up their defensive play after the equaliser. The crowd saw an intensive match with chances either side. Soon after Luke NOBLETT was sent off with a yellow card, Muhammad SOHAIB received yellow as well and the match went on ten-on-ten.
Australia won a second penalty stroke after Jeremy HAYWARD’s penalty corner attempt was saved by a Pakistan defender’s body on the goal-line. Luke NOBLETT took the penalty stroke and flicked it into the top right corner. Pakistan was urgent to strike back but the young Kookaburras ran the clock down.
Australia** v Pakistan 2-1 (0-1)**
0-1 10' Muhammad UMAIR (FG)
1-1 49’ Dylan WOTHERSPOON (FG)
2-1 67’ Luke NOBLETT (PS)
