ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP): Australia defeated Pakistan 2-1 in an intensive gold medal match of the 1st Youth Olympic Games Hockey in Singapore on Wednesday.According to a reports available here, Australia started off with great pace and took immediately control of the game. The young Kookaburras won their first two penalty corners in the 2nd minute but flicker Oscar Wookey was denied twice.
Australia created many chances but Pakistan’s defence, especially goalkeeper Mazhar Abbas did an outstanding job and kept Australia out. While the Kookaburras dominated the match, Pakistan looked for opportunities to break through the opponents’ defence.
In the 10th minute Pakistan penetrated the Australian circle the first time and Muhammad Umair scored out of the blue making Pakistan leading 1-0. Australia kept on pressuring and won another penalty corner which led to a penalty stroke. Team-captain Daniel Beale took responsibility and went to the 7m mark. His shot into the bottom left was saved brilliantly by goalkeeper Abbas’s stick.
The beginning of the second half had not much action in the circles as Pakistan played defensively and gave Australia as less space as possible. However the young Australians rolled the pressure on and tied the score in the 49th minute when Dylan Wotherspoon’s reverse-stick-side shot found its way into the net.
Pakistan gave up their defensive play after the equaliser. The crowd saw an intensive match with chances either side. Soon after Luke Noblett was sent off with a yellow card, Pakistan’s Muhammad Sohaib received yellow as well and the match went on ten-on-ten.
Australia won a second penalty stroke after Jeremy Hayward’s penalty corner attempt was saved by a Pakistan defender’s body on the goal-line. Luke Noblett took the penalty stroke and flicked it into the top right corner. Pakistan was urgent to strike back but the young Kookaburras ran the clock down.
Meanwhile Belgium defeated Ghana 4-1 and secured Youth Olympic bronze medal, while hosts Singapore finished 5th after beating Chile 6-1 – APP
In the 10th minute Pakistan penetrated the Australian circle the first time and Muhammad Umair scored out of the blue making Pakistan leading 1-0. Australia kept on pressuring and won another penalty corner which led to a penalty stroke. Team-captain Daniel Beale took responsibility and went to the 7m mark. His shot into the bottom left was saved brilliantly by goalkeeper Abbas’s stick.
The beginning of the second half had not much action in the circles as Pakistan played defensively and gave Australia as less space as possible. However the young Australians rolled the pressure on and tied the score in the 49th minute when Dylan Wotherspoon’s reverse-stick-side shot found its way into the net.
Pakistan gave up their defensive play after the equaliser. The crowd saw an intensive match with chances either side. Soon after Luke Noblett was sent off with a yellow card, Pakistan’s Muhammad Sohaib received yellow as well and the match went on ten-on-ten.
Australia won a second penalty stroke after Jeremy Hayward’s penalty corner attempt was saved by a Pakistan defender’s body on the goal-line. Luke Noblett took the penalty stroke and flicked it into the top right corner. Pakistan was urgent to strike back but the young Kookaburras ran the clock down.
Meanwhile Belgium defeated Ghana 4-1 and secured Youth Olympic bronze medal, while hosts Singapore finished 5th after beating Chile 6-1 – APP
