IPOH, (Malaysia), May 8: Mohammad Saqlain’s late penalty corner strike carved a narrow 3-2 win for Pakistan who came from behind to beat Malaysia in their opening match of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament on Thursday.

Hosts Malaysia made a fine start when forward Kevinder Singh slammed home a loose ball in Pakistan’s goal area in the first minute. Pakistan scored their equaliser through Mohammad Atiq from a penalty corner in the 22nd minute.

A minute later, Malaysia reclaimed the lead through penalty corner specialist Mohammad Amin Rahim.

However, the greenshirts levelled the score yet again in the 28th through Rehan Butt who flicked home a cross before Pakistan got the winner in the 60th minute when Saqlain successfully converted a penalty corner.

Earlier, New Zealand and Argentina registered their opening match wins against India and Belgium respectively.

New Zealand sealed a narrow 4-3 victory against India whereby all three goals by India were converted by penalty corner specialist Sandeep Singh in the 14th, 20th and 60th minute.

New Zealand’s goals were scored by Andrew Hayward (penalty corner, 22nd), Simon Child (field goal, 35th), skipper Philip Burrows (field goal, 45th) and Gareth Brooks (field goal, 54th).

In another match, Argentina beat Belgium 2-1.

Argentina scored the opening goal through Ezequiel Martin Sosa’s field effort in the 33rd minute. However, Belgium equalised through Jerome Truyens in the 54th minute. The winner came from a penalty corner by Tomas Argento Innocente in the 60th minute.

Friday’s fixtures:

Canada v Belgium; Pakistan v New Zealand; Argentina v India.—Agencies