An impressive England demolished Pakistan 8-2 in their second Pool A match to register their best-ever win in the history of the FIH Champions Trophy at the Kalinga Stadium, in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
England dished out a scintillating performance in the opening two quarters and pumped in as many as five goals to child play with the hapless Pakistanis.
Such was their dominance and control over the match that England scored seven field goals against just one through penalty corners.
The 8-2 victory is England’s best-ever in the elite eight-nation event, bettering their 5-1 win over Spain in 1987.
Today’s win is also England’s biggest ever victory over Pakistan in Champions Trophy history, the previous best being a 2-0 triumph in 1999.
England got off the blocks through Mark Gleghorne’s (15th minute) tough from close range before Nick Catlin made it 2-0 with a powerful hit two minutes later.
Exactly two minutes later, David Condon got a beautiful touch to Tim Whiteman’s cross to register England’s third goal before skipper Barry Middleton (24th) and Ashley Jackson (26th) also scored to give their side a commanding 5-0 lead at the lemon break.
After the change of ends, Sam Ward (45th), who made his debut in the last match, scored his third goal of the tournament with a lovely finish to Adam Dixon’s pass.
Alastair Brogdon (48th) then increased England’s lead to 7-0 with a diving effort before Muhammad Arslan Qadir (57th) got a consolation goal for Pakistan three minutes from full time.
There were more goals in store as Chris Griffiths (59th) scored England eighth goal of the match before Muhammad Irfan (60th) converted a penalty corner on the final hooter.
With two wins from as many games, England are atop Pool A, while Pakistan lost both the matches they played in the tournament so far.
England had stunned world champions Australia 3—1 in their opening game, while Pakistan lost 1—2 against Belgium.
Earlier, Australia’s disappointing show at the Hero Champions Trophy continued as Belgium made a remarkable comeback to eke out a 4-4 draw against the Kookaburras in a high-scoring Pool A match at the Kailnga Stadium, in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Hero Hockey India League’s highest ever paid player, Tom Boon, scored the all-important equaliser for the Red Lions from a penalty corner with just one-tenth of a second remaining in the match.
The first quarter witnessed a keen tussle between the two sides but ended goalless.
But it was the second quarter, which produced enthralling hockey with as many as five goals being scored in quick succession.
Chris Ciriello was the first to register his name on the scoresheet when he converted a penalty corner for Australia in the 16th minute.
Three minutes later, Australia skipper Eddie Ockenden made it 2-0. He stole the ball in the Belgian circle and netted it with a backhand strike.
Jake Whetton tripled Australia’s lead two minutes later by slotting in from close range after Belgian goalkeeper Jeremy Gucasoff half-stopped Matt Gohdes cross-shot.
But Belgium showed why they are regarded as one of the strongest hockey playing nations at present and pulled two goals back to narrow the margin before the halftime.
Sebastien Dockier scored the first Belgian goal from a field effort in the 25th minute before Simon Florent van Aubel tapped in his side’s second goal after picking out a Gougnard pass.
But after the change of ends, Flynn Ogilvie scored his first international goal to extend Australia’s lead by finishing off a fine move down the left flank.
Two minutes later, Belgium captain John-John Dohmen scored another field goal to keep his side in the hunt with a quarter of play still left.
In the last few minutes of the final quarter, Belgium pressed hard in search of the equaliser and in the process secured a few penalty corners, the last of which came with seconds remaining, courtesy a video referral.
And from the final setpiece, awarded with three seconds to go, Boon recovered a miscued drag-flick to smash home a dramatic equaliser.
The result leaves Belgium on four points after two games while Australia has just one.
Netherlands down Germany
The Netherlands produced a performance of speed and precision to outdo Germany 4—1 in Pool B of the Hockey Champions Trophy.
The Dutch were in cruise control by half—time, building a 3—0 lead. Constantijn Jonker got the first goal of the match with a reverse stick finish from the top of the circle after Robbert Kemperman’s exquisite through—ball on 11 minutes.
Germany had their chances in the second quarter, notably from Jonas Gomoll’s trickery while Mats Grambusch drew the best from the Dutch goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann.
Moritz Furste saved a corner flick on the line but the Oranje were 2—0 ahead when Diede van Puffelen scored his second goal in two games from close range from a left—wing attack.
Rogier Hofman’s thunderous shot made it 3—0 at half—time and that is how it remained through the third period as Stockmann made another great stop to keep his clean sheet in tact.
And it was 4—0 with nine minutes left when Jeroen Herzberger finished off a pacy attack, touching in Seve van Ass’s backhand cross.
Florian Fuchs pulled one back in impudent fashion with five minutes left but it proved a mere consolation. It secured a second successive win for the Dutch who lead Pool B with six points.
