July 11, 2003	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1424

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Pakistan Juniors 5 China 2

KARACHI, July 10: Pakistan Juniors survived a scare before carving a 5-2 victory over a battling China, thanks to two-goal Akhtar Ali in the Pakistan-China friendship hockey series on Thursday.

After being pinned down by the hosts in their own half for six minutes, the tour party launched their first attack. They were duly rewarded when they got a penalty stroke as the goalbound hit from China striker struck on Sajjad Anwar’s leg.

Song Yi successfully converted the penalty stroke to give his side a morale-boosting lead which they could keep intact barely for 60 seconds at Pakistan Steel Mills ground.

The celebrations on the Chinese bench were short-lived as Pakistan Juniors retaliated to score a splendid equaliser through Khurram Butt. The striker, one of the five new faces in the squad, picked the ball at the top of the circle to slam home a spectacular goal.

The home side could have won with a greater margin but were left ruing missed chances in both halves. Akhtar squandered a perfect opportunity when he failed to connect a blistering Mohammad Arif cross in the 11th minute.

China’s Yu Haino came near scoring the equaliser in the 15th minute, but could not accomplish the task owing to a delayed and half-hearted attempt despite a gaping goal in front.

Pakistan Juniors had a belligerent forward-line, especially the right flank but a slow-moving left side as most of their manoeuvres were from the right wing.

It was a right side move on which Akhtar poached his first in the 17th minute with a bullet-like shot that went into the into net while the striker was facing against the target.

Mohammad Khalid, who missed sitters more than once was off target in the 33rd minute, chiefly because of delay in action.

Chinese, who were missing two of their players including captain Lu Pang due to injuries, slumped to 3-1 three minutes after resumption. Yasir Islam, the promising player of the Under- 19 event in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, got the third off an indirect drill.

The Chinese, who usually play with 4-4-2 or 2-4-4 systems, were forced to field just one part time sweeper defender by adopting 3-3-3 formation with their full-back on the injury list.

Following a 45th-minute golden opportunity wasted by Khalid, breathing down Pakistan Juniors’ neck, China again threatened the home team when Yu Yang scored four minutes later the second off an indirect try to make it 3-2.

China came with a changed strategy after the lemons, adopting the South Korean-style defence by dispatching the entire team into the 25-yard line whenever Pakistan Juniors penetrated opposition’s half.

Packed Chinese defence, however, was not enough to prevent Pakistan Juniors from getting the pressure off. The greenshirts heaved a sigh of relief when Akhtar sounded the backboards with a powerful hit that beat the China goalkeeper in the 50th minute.

Mohammad Arshad sealed the fate of the game with a well-taken goal after he connected a measured Imran Khan hit in the 65th minute.

Pakistan forced two penalty corners while China four. Both the sides netted once off the penalty corner.

The visitors, who are here to play two matches each against Pakistan Juniors and Seniors, play the second game against Juniors on Friday. Pakistan senior side take on the visiting team on July 13 and 14.

China are expected to play two more matches at UBL Sports Complex following the cancellation of the games in Wah.