Canada crush Pakistan in World Hockey League

KARACHI: Pakistan faced their second defeat in as many matches as they were outclassed by Canada 6-0 in their match of the World Hockey  League Semifinal Round at the London’s Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Friday.

This was Pakistan’s heaviest defeat against the North Americans.

Canada displayed free-flowing game and dominated the match right from the beginning. Their attacks were swift and well-coordinated, and their strength inside the circle resulted in a couple of sumptuous goals.

Their use of wingers was also very effective. Goals arrived in every manner: three field, two penalty corner conversions and one off the penalty stroke.

The hunger for goals remained insatiable – their sixth goal came in the last minute.

Pakistan’s defence made a number of unforced errors and their marking was poor. Most of the time, they appeared a disjointed lot.

In their first match against the Netherlands, the Green-shirts had their chances but the finishing was pathetic.

Pakistan have earned just one penalty corner in two matches.

With the high-profile game against arch-rivals India coming up on Sunday (today), the Green-shirts need to pull up their socks.

In another match of the day, Olympic champions Argentina defeated Malaysia 5-2.

Gonzalo Peillat, the world’s leading penalty corner specialist, was in a lethal mood as he scored the first four goals for his team off the set piece.