GNIEZNO (Poland), Aug 21: Pakistani Juniors produced their best performance on the last leg of their European tour when in a sterling display they handed out a 6-3 drubbing to host Poland in the six-nation challenge Under-21 International hockey tournament here on Wednesday.

Playing before a partisan crowd of nearly 1000 spectators Pakistan staged an incredible rally from 0-1 down and 3-3 draw, to demolish hosts 6-3.

Pakistan Juniors were enjoying a 3-1 lead at the interval. This was their second win in as many games. The entire second half was played under floodlight because of fading lights.

Left-in Tariq Aziz led his team from the front by slamming three goals including one from a penalty stroke. Centre forward Shabbir Khan struck two field goals while penalty corner striker Muhammad Imran banged the other goal.

Grotowski Marcin, Hutek Szymon and Grotowski Robert scored goals for Poland.

Like in the previous game against Malaysia, Pakistan gave Polish team a morale-boosting start when they conceded a goal in the second minute.

Poland secured their penalty corner in the second minute and Grotowski Marcin made no mistake with a powerful hit which gave custodian Shakir Muneer no chance.

Though selfless Akhtar was unable to score any goal but by interchanging position with Tariq, he tore apart the Polish defence.

Tariq and Shabbir combined to make the score level in the tenth minute. Shabbir received a neat pass from Tariq and blasted the equaliser with an angular hit.

Two goals in space of five minute gave Pakistan ascendancy. A brilliant combined move with Adnan Zakir saw Tariq slamming first of his three goals in 24th minutes.

Seven minutes from time Muhammad Imran’s scoop beat goalie Krolikowski Marcin after he missed the opening short corner in the fourth minute.

Forward Hutek Szymon banged a field goal after clearing delay by the defenders in 36th minute and Robert delighted the home supporters with another field goal as Poland drew level three-all.

That was last hurrah for local team as Pakistan forwards moved like a well-oiled machine and dazzled under light. Three goals in space of ten minutes changed the complexion of the game with Tariq scoring twice.

Tariq smartly utilised a fine move with Adnan Zakir to make it 4-3 in 46th minute and he converted a penalty stroke in 52nd minute awarded after Shabbir was brought down to emerge as the leading scorer of the event with four goals.

Three minute later Shabbir, who missed a couple of gilt-edged chances, scored his second goal in 55th minute. He snatched the ball from defender at top of circle and pushed it past a hapless Polish goalie after dodging couple of players.

Poland for a while was reduced to nine players after English umpire also sent off Tubacki Pawel and Gorny Tomasz for rough tacklings.

Earlier in the second game of the day, India defeated under strength Germany 3-0. All the three goals of the match came in the first session.

Sandeep Singh converted a penalty corner in 10th minute and captain Prabodh Tirkey doubled the score a minute later with a field effort while Dimpale Girish scored off a penalty corner four minutes before the interval.

Meanwhile, Olympian Asif Bajwa took charge of Pakistan Junior team on Wednesday in the ongoing 6-nation International Under-21 tournament.

Asif has stayed back in Amsterdam (Holland) to attend a FIH Master Coaching Course.

Standings: (Tabulated under, teams, played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points).

India 2 2 0 0 13 0 6

Pakistan 2 2 0 0 11 5 6

Poland 2 1 0 1 10 10 3

Malaysia 2 1 0 1 5 5 3

Germany 2 0 0 2 4 10 0

France 2 0 0 2 0 13 0

—APP