BSS, Dhaka :
Former champions Pakistan were forced to play a 2-2 goal draw by Japan in their second match of Hero Asia Cup Hockey tournament held on Friday at Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.
After a thumping 7-0 win over Bangladesh in their opening match, Pakistan had a good chance to confirm their berth to the Super Fours with a second straight win but they missed out despite taking the lead. Pakistan will need at least a draw against their arch-rivals India in their last Pool match if Japan beat host Bangladesh on the same day.
Japan, who came into the match on the back of 5-1 defeat at the hands of India, put up a much improved performance on the day to hold Pakistan in the first quarter before Pakistan took the lead in the first minute of the second quarter.
However, Japan restored the parity in the 22nd minute with a strike from Tanaka Kenta and Yoshihara Heita gave them the lead in the 29th minute to arise the possibility of an upset.
Pakistan finally neutralized the team’s margin when Umar Bhutta scored for his team in the 50th minute of the match.
Former champions Pakistan were forced to play a 2-2 goal draw by Japan in their second match of Hero Asia Cup Hockey tournament held on Friday at Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.
After a thumping 7-0 win over Bangladesh in their opening match, Pakistan had a good chance to confirm their berth to the Super Fours with a second straight win but they missed out despite taking the lead. Pakistan will need at least a draw against their arch-rivals India in their last Pool match if Japan beat host Bangladesh on the same day.
Japan, who came into the match on the back of 5-1 defeat at the hands of India, put up a much improved performance on the day to hold Pakistan in the first quarter before Pakistan took the lead in the first minute of the second quarter.
However, Japan restored the parity in the 22nd minute with a strike from Tanaka Kenta and Yoshihara Heita gave them the lead in the 29th minute to arise the possibility of an upset.
Pakistan finally neutralized the team’s margin when Umar Bhutta scored for his team in the 50th minute of the match.
