Pakistan struggles

Press, 23 September 1988, Page 21

Pakistan struggles

NZPA-Reuter Seoul Pakistan, holder of the men’s Olympic hockey title, was given a fright in its group match against Argentina yesterday before winning 2-1, its third successive victory. Fernando Ferrara missed a great chance to dent the champion’s 100 per cent record when he shot over the bar in the final minute. After taking the lead through Shahbaz Ahmed in the twenty-third minute, the defending champion scorned several chances before Zahid Sharif increased its lead in the sixtieth minute. Argentina, who rarely threatened, pulled back a

goal when Marcelo Mascheroni converted its only penalty corner. The South Koreans led India for 40 minutes after Kim Young-joon converted its first penalty corner. In the morning’s other group tie, India, which has won the Olympic title eight times, enjoyed its first success of the Seoul tournament when it came back from a goal down to beat South Korea 3-1. But the Indians found their touch in the second half after introducing Shahid to the attack. The left wing, Thoiba Singh (2) and Jude Felix scored the goals between the fifty-fourth and fifty-ninth minutes.