January 22, 2002	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 7, 1422

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Pakistan 9 Japan 1

Netherlands 4 Australia 4

Malaysia 1 New Zealand 1

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21: Pakistan went on a goal scoring spree when they thrashed Japan 9-1 in their third game in the six-nation invitational tournament at the National Hockey Stadium Monday.

Although Japan scored first in the 6th minute through Takahiko Yamabori, the end result was never in doubt.

Pakistan stepped up a gear to equalize in the 11th minute through Sohail Abbas who scored off a penalty corner.

In the space of three minutes Pakistan was 4-1 up with Kashif Jawwad scoring in the 16th minute followed by two goals by Sameer Hussain in the 18th and 19th minutes.

Japan was a beaten side and did nothing to stem the slide in the second half.

Pakistan continued where they left off in the first half by scoring another five goals in the second half.

Skipper Mohammad Sarwar started the goal rush when he scored in the 39th minute.

Kashif got his second goal in the 45th minute before Shahbaz Ahmad scored the seventh for Pakistan in the 61st minute.

Kashif got his third goal in the 67th minute and Sarwar completed the rout in the 70th minute.

Pakistan take on New Zealand in their next game Wednesday.

But Pakistan team manager Brig Khalid Khokhar was far from satisfied with his team’s performance.

“The margin of victory may be big but the performance left much to be desired. The players took things for granted and should have stuck to the game plan,” said the manager.

NETHERLANDS HELD: Holland grabbed a last gasp equaliser to draw 4-4 with Australia after their opponents had taken the lead three times, adds AFP.

Holland needed to win in order to stay in contention for a place in the finals but they would probably welcome the one point gained in the eight-goal thriller.

Australia scored the opener in the 13th minute when Mathew Smith scored from a penalty corner set piece.

But Holland hit back six minutes later when Karel Klaver capitalized on a momentary lapse of concentration in the Aussie defence to send the ball past Lachlan Dreher.

Australia were unperturbed and went ahead in the 27th minute through Ben Taylor. Jamie Dwyer scored Australia’s third in the 41st minute and suddenly Holland were staring at another defeat.

Bram Lomans kept the Dutch within striking distance by narrowing the gap to 3-2 when he converted a penalty corner in the 44th minute.

That gave the Dutch hope and they levelled the scores through Teun De Nooijer in the 55th minute.

Australia were stunned but found a gap in the Dutch defence and went ahead again in the 57th minute when Micheal McCann deflected in a cross from Daniel Sproule.

Holland sent on Marten Eikelboom in a last ditch effort to salvage a point and he did not disappoint by scoring the equalizer three minutes from time.

DRAWN GAME: Meanwhile in an earlier match hosts Malaysia were held to a 1-1 draw by New Zealand.

Malaysia scored first through K. Keevan Raj in the 16th minute but the Kiwis equalized in the 52nd minute through Simon Towns.