A goal-fest saw Australia defeat Pakistan 7-5 in the 5th-8th classification match of the Junior Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday.
The defeat means that Pakistan will now face Argentina for the 7th-8th place match. Meanwhile, Australia will take on the Netherlands in the 5th-6th place match. Both matches will be played on December 16.
Cambell Geddes scored a hat-trick for Australia against Pakistan. Brodee Foster and Nathan Czinner scored a brace each for the winning side.
For Pakistan, Abdul Qayyum scored two goals. Meanwhile, Umar Mustafa, Ahtisham Aslam and Suyfyan Khan scored one each.
Australia scored four goals in the third quarter which took the game away from Pakistan. Despite scoring three goals in the final quarter, Pakistan could not make a comeback in the match.
“Pakistan were not expected to be in the quarter-finals but all other seven teams were expected based on their rankings. I’m proud of the boys and we have seen that we can give competition to those teams. People in Pakistan should be proud of this talented group,” Pakistan coach Roelant Oltmans said after the match.
It must be noted that the Green Shirts lost the quarter-final 4-2 against Spain on Tuesday.
Pakistan qualified for the quarter-finals after levelling their third game in the group stage by 1-1 against Belgium.
Pakistan also drew 3-3 against the Netherlands, while winning against New Zealand 4-0, in the group stage.
Spain will face France and India will take on Germany in the semi-finals later today.
Pakistan squad
Ali Raza (Goalkeeper), Arbaz Ahmad, Sufyan Khan, Ghazanfar, Murtaza Yaqoob, Zikriya Hayat, Arshad Liaqat, Abdul Rehman, Hanan Shahid (Captain), Abuzar, Arbaz Ayaz, Abdul Rafay (Goalkeeper), Abdul Manan, M Ammad, Ahtisham, Basharat Ali, Aqeel Ahmed, Ali Murtaza, Umer Mustafa, and Abdul Qayyum.
