Pakistan trounce Japan 4-0

Playing at half-pace, four-time champions Pakistan warmed up with a 4-0 win against Japan in their opening pool A match.

Playing at half-pace, four-time champions Pakistan warmed up with a 4-0 win against Japan in their opening pool A match of the 11th FIH men's hockey World Cup, at Mochengladbach.

HT Image

Penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas led the scorers' list with two conversions (9th, 64th) while Rehan Butt (14th) and Shakeel Abbasi (68th) provided some variety with field goals.

Clearly, No 14 Japan, the lowest ranked team in the tournament, were not equal to the task though they were not short on trying. On the day, Pakistan played at a comfortable pace and still carried enough ammunition to pound their opponents.