KUALA LUMPUR: In a quarterfinal match at the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Spain made a strong comeback to secure a 4-2 victory over Pakistan. Spain turned the tide in the second half to secure a spot in the semifinals of the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup.
Pakistan took an early lead in the 12th minute of the first quarter, courtesy of a brilliant move by Ghazanfar, who assisted his captain Hannan Shahid in slotting home a goal, making it 1-0.
The first half concluded with Pakistan maintaining their advantage, but Spain’s resurgence in the third quarter was remarkable. Spain showcased renewed energy and determination, scoring four consecutive goals in the 37th, 38th, 41st, and 45th minutes of the game.
Spain’s top-scorer of the tournament, Pol Cabre-Verdiel, leveled the match, followed by Bozal Aleix, who scored through a penalty corner to put Spain ahead at 2-1. Espino Pablo added a third goal to the tally, making it 3-1.
Pakistan Team Show Resilience
Despite the setback, Pakistan showed resilience as Sufyan netted a goal through a penalty corner in the 43rd minute, narrowing the lead. However, Aleix secured his second goal of the night, sealing the victory for Spain at 4-2.
With this result, the semifinal lineup is now complete, featuring Germany, India, France, and Spain. Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to face Australia on December 14 in the battle for the 5th position in the tournament.
