CHENNAI: A dominant Pakistan walloped China 6-1 to earn a consolation victory in the fifth place play-off encounter in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Friday.

Mohammad Sufyan Khan and Mohammad Ammad struck a brace each for Pakistan while Abdul Hanan Shahid and Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf scored one apiece.

Benhai Chen was the lone goal-scorer for China. For the match, Pakistan mostly fielded players, who are set to take part in Junior World Hockey Championship with the seniors preparing for next month’s Asian Games in Hangzhou.

The Pakistanis practically sealed the game in the opening quarter itself. It all began on an attacking note from both sides.

However, it was in the ninth minute when Pakistan earned the opening lead as Ammad managed to tap the ball in from a close range after Ahtisham Aslam’s quick pass from the right got a deflection and forced a save from Caiyu Wang.

In the very next minute, Sufyan successfully converted a penalty corner to double the lead. He quickly made it 3-0 the lead in the very next minute with another drag-flick conversion — this time again finding the top-right corner.

It did not take long for Pakistan to score their fourth in the 15th minute when Hanan fired in after he received an assist following a series of passes exchanged between Rana and Ammad.

After break, China displayed a bit more aggression in terms of attacks and it was in the 35th when Chen pulled one back from a penalty corner.

While the Pakistanis changed their goalkeeper during this quarter, replacing Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan with Akmal Hussain, the Chinese came close to scoring a couple of attempts but eventually missed out.

As things entered into the final quarter, the Chinese continued with their attacking intent. But, in the 52nd, a penalty corner for Pakistan saw Ammad tapping in a looping save from the keeper.

Just three minutes later, Rana fired in the sixth with a solo effort, running past a couple of defenders.

China continued with their intent in the dying minutes of the encounter, but it was already too late for them, as Pakistan completed a cake-walk finish.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2023