DNA
ISLAMABAD: A brace from captain Abu Bakr Mahmood guided Pakistan to a 3-1 victory against South Korea in the second Test of a four-match series here at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts, who recorded victory with an identical margin in the first Test of the series at the same venue, retained momentum in the second match to outgun Korea.
After the first half remained goalless in a close battle, Korea took lead in the final minute of the second quarter when Son Dain scored a field goal.
In a remarkable comeback after the break, Pakistan equalised in the 33rd minute when Abdul Rehman smashed a superb field goal to make it 1-1.
The home team then took complete control of the match as their skipper excelled. Abu Bakr first converted a penalty corner in the 52nd minute to put his side 2-1 ahead and then struck again in the final minute of the match with another successful penalty corner to seal an emphatic victory for Pakistan.
For his outstanding performance, Abu Bakr was named player-of-the-match.
“I am very happy to see Pakistan playing against any international team on home soil. For the first time in my life I am watching an international [hockey] match,” spectator Naveed Ahmed said.
Pakistan is hosting South Korea ahead of this month’s FIH World Cup (Aug 15-30) in the Netherlands and Belgium where Abu Bakr and company will face tough opponents including arch-rivals India and England during the pool stage.
“This series [against Korea] is very helpful for our players to improve their ranking. We are making all-out efforts to prepare a good team for the World Cup,” PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani told Dawn.
“The squad for the World Cup will be announced in the next three days.”
