Pakistan receives a blow to qualify for Hockey World Cup. Argentina defeated Pakistan 3-1 in the quarter final of qualifying round. The match was played in the London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in which World number 1 Argentina defeated former Olympic and world champion Pakistan by 3-1. Winner team was leading 1-0 at half time while both the teams missed several chances of goals. Argentina’s Maico Casella scored two goals while Ali Shan scored the only goal for Pakistan. Argentina could only score 1 goal from 8 penalty corners.
No team could score a goal in the first quarter of match. In the 2nd quarter, Pakistan missed two penalty corners. Argentina scored the first goal in 22nd minute of the match through penalty stroke. In the 3rd quarter, the Argentinean team was able to score its 2nd goal on the 6th penalty corner. At 44th minute, Argentina scored its final goal and the score became 3-0.
Pakistan tried to attack in the 4th quarter and Ali Shan successfully put the ball in the goal by reverse flick on the 3rd penalty corner. At the end of the match, the score was 3-1.
The matches to decide 5th to 8th position will start from Saturday. The experts say that Pakistan will rely on luck to qualify for World Cup. India has already qualified for the world cup as host and it will play the match for 5th position with Canada. If both India and Pakistan wins their matches then Pakistan can qualify for the WC by getting 6th position.