IPOH: After failing to qualify for Rio Olympics, Pakistan’s hopes of putting up a good at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup were dashed when the side only managed to win two out of the five games it played.
In the last league match in Ipoh on Friday, Pakistan flattened Japan 4-1 to ensure qualification for the fifth playoff.
“We are happy to have picked up our second win and qualify for the play-off. It will be a tougher match but it will also help us gain more experience that this side needs,” Pakistan coach K.M. Junaid told the tournament website.
“Our main goal was to ensure that the playing structure the team is being built upon is strengthened,” he added.
Japan, which is at the bottom of the barrel at seventh spot, hasn’t beaten Pakistan in any of the previous encounters.
Japanese players, though, did try to stage a comeback in the game’s dying moments, they couldn’t maximise on the goal-scoring opportunities.
Pakistan started off their campaign with a 3-1 win over Canada, then marched on suffer back-to-back comprehensive defeats at the hands of New Zealand (5-3), Australia (4-0) and India (5-1).
Pakistan will face Canada for the fifth spot on Saturday (tomorrow).
The Sultan Azlan Cup features India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and host Malaysia competing for the title. – Agencies
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