Ending at bottom-rock fourth place in Pool A, World No 11 Pakistan hockey team has surprised everyone with this win as they stunned Pool B top ranked team The Netherlands. It is Pakistan’s first win against The Netherlands in the Champions Trophy in 12 attempts, a run dating back to 1998.
The Netherlands started the match well with Jeroen Hertzberger scoring from mid-circle in the fifth minute.
However, the green-shirts bounced Muhammad Waqas created the equalizer with his right wing work unlocking the door for Muhammand Tousiq to scramble home early in the second quarter to level the arrears 1-1.
Before the end of the second quarter, skipper Mohammad Imran fired low past the Dutch goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
The Netherlands took the control after the big break and produced the equalize in 38th minute when Rogier Hofman’s driven cross from the right flank picked out Constantijn Jonker for a smart finish.
However, the green-shirts were something else on their mind then giving a way for the favorites to ride into the semifinal. In the 51st minute, Muhammad Irfan flick high into the net from a cleverly taken penalty corner and took the lead.
The Netherlanders went out of wits and fluffed a corner of their own, and the green-shirts countered to win another set piece which Mohammad Irfan applied the killer touch to take the green-shirts into semifinals with a convincing 4-2 win.
