Rasool inspires Pakistan to big win over Korea
Pool D – Pakistan 6-2 Korea

A four goal blitz in the second half gave Pakistan a confidence boosting 6-2 win over Korea in the first match of Day 4 here at the Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy in Auckland. Following an evenly fought first half that finished 2-2, Pakistan attacker Shafqat Rasool produced an inspirational display to score one goal and set up two others as the Asian champions achieved their first win of the tournament. The win puts Pakistan onto three points in Pool D, and keeps alive their hopes of a fifth place finish.

Pakistan were forced to sit deep in the early stages of an enthralling first half as Korea relentlessly pressurized the Asian champions. Hyo Sik You and Hyun Woo Nam both missed very good opportunities early in the game before Nam Yong Lee showed great composure to drift past Pakistan keeper Imran Shah before flicking into an unguarded net in the seventh minute of the match.

Conceding the goal seemed to spark Pakistan into life, and soon hit back when Muhammad Imran launched a stunning penalty corner flick into the roof of the Korean goal in the fifteenth minute. The intense Pakistan pressure resulted in a second goal just minutes later thanks to Abdul Haseem Khan, although Khan’s cross-shot appeared to be travelling well wide of the target before taking a big deflection from the stick of Korea captain Jong Bak Cha and flying into the goal.

Just as it seemed that Pakistan were going to take a firm grip on the game, the momentum again switched back in the favour of the Koreans. A volley from Jong Ho Seo travelled fractionally wide of the target ahead of the Korean equalizer, which came courtesy of a low penalty corner drag-flick from Hyun Woo  Nam seven minutes ahead of the half time break.

Much like the first half, Korea bossed the start of the second period. However, impressive Pakistan defending thwarted the Koreans on numerous occasions. However, the tide turned when a defensive error was almost punished by the irrepressible Shakeel Abbasi, whose goal-bound shot was deflected just wide of the target by Korea’s Nam Yong Lee. It proved to be a pivotal moment, as Pakistan once again grabbed the initiative and set about the task of claiming all three points.  

Pakistan took the lead in the 60th minute thanks to a brilliant round-the-back deflection from Abdul Haseem Khan, a goal that was made courtesy of some incisive play by Shafqat Rasool. Rasool was again in the thick of the action three minutes later when his goal-bound flick hit the body of a Korean defender on the goal line, resulting in a penalty stroke which was expertly dispatched by Waseem Ahmed before Rasool grabbed a goal of his own less than 60 seconds later to make the score 5-3. The rout was completed by Mohammad Imran, who scored his second of the game with another well placed penalty corner flick.

Pakistan - Korea 6-2 – Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy Men 2011

> Pakistan record their biggest CT win in 14 years, since they beat Korea 6-2 in the Final 5-6 in 1997.
> The last time Pakistan scored at least 6 goals in a CT match was in their 6-5 win over Argentina in 2003.
> Pakistan are now unbeaten in their last 5 CT encounters with Korea (3 wins, 2 draws).
> At 3-2 Abdul Haseem Khan scored Pakistan’s 400th goal in CT competition. Only Australia (497) and Netherlands (483) have scored more CT goals.
> Korea conceded 6 goals for the second time this tournament. They also conceded 6 vs New Zealand (6-1).
> Pakistan converted 2 of 2 PCs in this match. Pakistan are now on 5 for 11 in terms of penalty corners converted (45%, the highest percentage so far at Auckland 2011).
> Korea converted 1 of 5 PCs in this match. Nam Hyun-Woo scored Korea’s first PC goal this tournament.
> Korea are now on 1 for 15 at Auckland 2011 (%).

Pakistan - Korea (8 Dec 2011, 12:05) – Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy Men 2011

  Head-to-heads

> Pakistan have won 3 of 7 Champions Trophy matches against Korea (3W – 2D – 2D).
> Pakistan are unbeaten in their last 4 CT encounters with Korea (2 wins, 2 draws) since losing 4-3 in 1998.
> Pakistan’s biggest CT win over Korea came in 1997 (6-2).
> Korea’s biggest CT win over Pakistan was their first encounter in 1997 (3-1).
> In May 2011, Pakistan beat Korea 4-2 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup after coming back from 1-0 and 2-1 down.
> At the 2010 Asian Games in Guangahou (China), Pakistan beat Korea 1-1 (4-3 ps) in the semifinal and went on to win the championship.

Pakistan Facts

> 3-time Champions Trophy winners Pakistan finished 7th (of 8) at their last CT tournament in 2007.
> Pakistan have scored 4 goals (1FG, 3PC) so far, goals scored by Sohail Abbas (PC), Shakeel Abbasi (FG), Muhammad Imran (PC) and Muhammad Tauseeq (PC).
> Pakistan are on 3 for 9 in terms of penalty corners converted (33%, the highest percentage so far at Auckland 2011).
> Pakistan have faced most penalty corners (17) so far at Auckland 2011.
> Pakistan have also conceded most PC goals (5).

 Korea Facts

> At their last Champions Trophy tournament Korea finished third (at Melbourne 2009). Their lowest CT rank is sixth (and last) in 1997, 2001 and 2002.
> Korea, Great Britain and Pakistan have scored fewest goals (4) so far at Auckland 2011.
> Korea’s 4 (field) goals have been scored by Cho Suk-Hoon, You Hyo-Sik (FG), Kim Young-Jin and Seo Jong-Ho.
> Korea have conceded 11goals so far at Auckland 2011 (9FG – 2PC).
> Korea are on 0 for 10 in terms of penalty corners converted at Auckland 2011. Germany (o for 9) are the only other team yet to score from penalty corners at Auckland 2011.
> Korea’s You Hyo-Sik and Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar are team mates at Dutch side Laren.