The Hindu : Sport : Pakistan lifts Rabobank Trophy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 22, 2005

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Pakistan lifts Rabobank Trophy

S. Thyagarajan

Amsterdam: With a display that can be described impressive and inspirational Pakistan portrayed the essence of fortitude to lift the Rabobank Trophy with an astonishing 4-3 victory in the eight-nation hockey tournament here this evening.

The recovery after trailing 2-3 at half time will ever be etched on the minds of those who witnessed the event.

The atmosphere at the Wagener Stadium was like a carnival, even though the Dutch were not figuring in the final. The gathering was a tribute to the love of hockey in this land.

Clearly, the encounter should go as among the several dramatic contests in recent years. And this significant win for Pakistan should obliterate scepticism in the country over the dwindling standard and even the apprehension of ever bridging the gap for trophy triumphs for a long period.

Fightback

It was incomprehensible why the Aussies who had such a good grip over the proceedings let go the advantage in the second half. At every step it was Australia that went into the lead, and Pakistan, displaying commendable fighting qualities, came back into the contest again and again.

There were definite indications of Australia having everything its way almost throughout the first half. With the mid-field led well by Brent Livermore, the frontline, where Travis Brooks played a leading role, kept up the pressure. It was Travis Brooks who produced the lead with an adroit finish off a pass Jeff Hammond. But the equaliser came through Imran Warsi, who pumped in one to the roof of the net.

Grant Schubert it was who pitched in the lead off a cross from Ben Bishop, whose shot was stopped by goalkeeper Salman. But Adnan Zakir produced a stunner of a deflection from pass by Shakeel Abbasi. Before half-time Ben Bishop flicked in to keep the Aussies ahead at the break. The transformation came when Rehan Bhatt, undeniably one of the finest wingers in contemporary hockey, capitalised on a defence and executed an eye-catching backhander that bewildered goalkeeper Stephen Lambert. Thereafter, the Pakistanis controlled the match exceedingly well.

The harmony displayed by Shabir Hussain and Shakeel Abbasi, with admirable support from the mid-field headed by Muhammad Saqlain and assisted well by Adnan Zakir, gave Pakistan a definite edge over the tiring Aussies.

All that Pakistan needed at this juncture was a defining moment, and it came from Mudassar Ali Khan who met a cross from Adnan Zakir to hoist what eventually proved the match-winner.

Try as the Aussies did in the remaining 18 minutes to find the equaliser but it was like a mirage, so close and yet so far in the end.

Bronze medal

In a slow paced encounter, Spain prevailed over South Korea by the odd goal in three to take a bronze medal. As expected it was a tight mid-field contest in which the watchword for both was caution. The Koreans had more openings but goalkeeper Bernarndino Harrera frustrated quite a few attempts until Sung Hoon Yoon struck late in the match. Two penalty corner goals by Santi Friexa proved the deciding factor.

Ms.Els van Breda Vriesmann, President, FIH, gave away the trophy.

Grant Schubert of Australia was declared the Player of the Tournament, while Holland's defender, Robert Horst as the most promising player.

The results: 3-4: Spain 2 (Santi Friexa 2) bt Korea 1 (Sung Hoon Yoon). Final: Pakistan 4 (Imran Warsi, Shakeel Abbasi, Adnan Zakir, Mudassar Ali Khan) bt Australia 3 (Travis Brooks, Grant Schubert, Ben Biship).

Final positions: 1. Pakistan, 2. Australia, 3. Spain, 4. South Korea, 5. Netherlands, 6. Germany, 7. India, 8. England.

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