Argentina beat Pakistan, finish 5th in Azlan Shah hockey

By IANS

Ipoh (Malaysia) : Argentina defeated Pakistan 4-2 and finished fifth in the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup eight-nation hockey tournament here Saturday.


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The South American team led 3-0 in the half time after strikes from Pedro Ibarra (11th), Lucas Rafael Rossi (16th) and Juan Eduardo Garreta (24th). But in the second half, Ehsan Ullah (47th) and Rehan Butt (61st) brought Pakistan back into the match.

Argentina delivered the final blow in the 65th minute through Pedro who converted his second penalty corner of the match.

Pakistan appeared a rather tired lot in the first half as Argentina called the shots and had the upper hand. The South American team made regular inroads into the Pakistani defence and the goals came rather easily for them.

However, in the second half, there was some change of fortune for the three-time winners Pakistan, who launched a series of attacks to score twice.

A draw appeared imminent as Pakistan players kept on troubling the Argentine defence. But the South Americans, who had finished seventh in their debut appearance here last year, scored their fourth goal from a penalty corner.

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