Dar Academy beat Belgium's Dragons 4-2 in style to win Belgium Leg opener
Pakistan’s Dar Hockey Academy earned a significant 4-2 victory against Dragons Club in Belgium leg of their European tour in Belgium.
Pakistan’s Dar Hockey Academy earned a significant 4-2 victory against Dragons Club in Belgium leg of their European tour in Belgium.
With a 3-0 lead and five minutes left, any team would feel assured of a victory.
So was Pakistan's Dar Hockey Academy against the mighty Dragons. But within two minutes, it was 3-2. Dar HA finally managed a 4-2 win with the last goal coming in the final minute of a thriller.
After winning all the five games in Holland, Dar HA crossed to Belgium to face
one of country's top sides. KHC Dragons, who finished fourth in the national league this year; were the national champions the previous season. Though, handicapped by the absence of three internationals on the national duty with the Belgium team in the ongoing Euro Nations Championships, the Dragons still fielded a very strong side which included three foreign pros from Australia, Holland and Ireland.
Dragons started as the favourites. A good back and forth game ensued from the start. There were opportunities at both the ends and the two net minders remained busy. Dar HA scored the only goal of the first quarter. Murtaz made an excellent steal near the centre line in the middle corridor.It was three on two. After covering a good distance, he passed to Adeel Latif in the circle. Adeel's diagonal pass from right was expertly pushed in by Farhan standing in front of the goal.
Hosts had better of the exchanges in the second quarter but couldn't make out of quite a few opportunities. Goal keeper Waqar Younis,Pakistan's future hope, was outstanding.
Dar HA rejigged in the third quarter of the high octane encounter which saw an even contest but no goal.
In the fifth minute of the exciting fourth quarter, Dar HA managed to extend the advantage via the most captivating seconds of the match. Wasim Akram, who has emerged as a decisive player on the tour, displaying superb stick work and body feints eliminated three defenders before releasing to Ali Aziz, standing at the penalty stroke spot, who flicked it in a flash. Soon, it was 3-0. On a counter, Asif Hanif sprinted and made a minus from the right goal line which was pushed into the goal by a rampaging Awais Arshad.
The seasoned KHC Dragons made a remarkable comeback. First, the Irish World Cupper Mathew Bell converted the team's fifth penalty corner with a flat angular push to the right corner of the tin. Next minute, another PC resulted in a penalty stroke when the strike hit the line stopper's body. Henry Raes cashed in on it, making it 3-2 and set up a tense finish.
Dar HA made advantage of the Dragons' throwing players up. A swift turn over saw a 1-2 between Ali Aziz and and Wasim Akram. Ali Aziz, the leading scorer on the European tour took his tally to nine, and his team heaved a sigh of relief.
