AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) Aug 20: In a display of top quality hockey skills from both sides, Netherlands drew 2-2 with Pakistan in the men’s Champions Trophy field hockey tournament on Tuesday. (Partly reported in Wednesday’s issue).

The Dutch, who beat Pakistan 5-2 in a practice match last Wednesday, got off to a flying start on Tuesday after just five minutes when Teun de Nooijer scored from near the left post after receiving a free hit from near the top of the circle from captain Jeroen Delmee.

Taeke Taekema failed to add to the score when he missed two penalty corner chances while Erik Jazet and Taekema and Geert Jan Derikx were solid in defence, breaking up Pakistan’s fast attacks through Nadeem and Shabbir Hussain.

The Dutch defence conceded three penalty corners in the first half with Sohail Abbas flicking in to the left of Guus Vogels in goal after 28 minutes to level the score at the break.

Raza Ali and Sohail worked well in Pakistan’s defensive circle with Sohail showing improved positional play and mobility in his game.

Pakistan started sharply in the second half, pressing Netherlands in their defensive quarter for 10 minutes until the home side broke out through the midfield with Geert Jan Derikx finding Teun de Nooijer at the left post.

De Nooijer’s flick rebounded to Karel Klaver who hurried a high shot over the backline with the goal open.

Taeke Taekema struck again for Netherlands, converting the third penalty corner in the 59th minute with a low flick along the carpet just inside the right post.

Pakistan’s Shabbir made three speedy and penetrating runs through the left in the last 10 minutes and set up Kashif Jawad to score from the top of the circle under the pads of Vogels charging out from goal in the 66th minute to set up an exciting final four minutes.

“I am satisfied with our strategy at this point to win the Champions Trophy but we did leave two points behind today,” said Netherlands’ coach Joost Bellaart.

“It was disappointing to have a goal disallowed when were 1-0 ahead as a 2-0 lead would have put us in control of the match,” Bellaart said.

Pakistan’s coach, Tahir Zaman praised his players for their performance.

“I am very happy with the way the team played and they played a good game against a very strong team and I believe we can repeat the performance in our remaining matches against India and Germany,” he said.

“Discipline in play is one of the priorities for me and you saw that in the way the team pressed for a long time at the start of the second half.”—AFP