Australia came back from the dumps today to snatch a thrilling 4-4 draw with Pakistan in the opening match of the 25th Champions Trophy hockey tournament at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, near Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The World Cup runners-up, who have won the Champions Trophy seven times, were staring defeat in the face as they trailed the Asian giants 2-4 with four minutes to go, but an inspired display in the dying minutes saw them scoring twice and stealing a point. Forward Grant Schubert, who scored the Australians' first goal after they were down 0-2 by the tenth minute, also fetched the equaliser in stoppage time from a penalty corner rebound.
The Pakistanis had Australia by the scruff of their necks as they went into the breather with a 3-2 advantage. But the one-time world champions paid the price for becoming complacent and going on the defensive after getting the fourth goal in the 63rd minute.
The Asian giants called the shots for most of the first half, particularly the first ten minutes. They went ahead in the sixth minute when Mudassar Ali, who had a fine match, sounded the board. The centre-forward received a pass at the top of the circle from Shabbir Hussain and sold a dummy before sending the ball past the diving Australian goalkeeper Mark Hickman.
The Pakistanis, thrice winners of this elite six-nation tournament, continued to exert pressure and were rewarded when penalty-corner ace Sohail Abbas scored from their first set-piece award in the 11th minute, his drag flick going high past Hickman's outstretched right hand.
But the Aussies became more methodical in midfield and organised themselves. Soon they began to split the Pakistani defence. A swift attack down the right flank saw them pull one back. Schubert received the ball at the top of the circle and scooped high past goalkeeper Ahmed Alam.
Pakistan had a couple of chances to increase their tally, but Kashif Jawad's reverse hit from close went over and Hickman did well to save Abbas's flick from Pakistan's second penalty corner.
Five minutes from half-time, Abbas made it 3-1 from his team's third penalty-corner, the ball hitting the crosspiece and falling into the cage. But the Aussies came back strongly a minute later and pulled one back, this time Troy Elder beating Alam with a neat, low flick to his right from the team's first penalty corner.
The Aussies began the second session more purposefully and had a good look at the Pakistan goal in the seventh and ninth minutes, but Nathan Eglington failed to finish cleanly a superb pass from Schubert and then Alam brought off a good save from Troy Elder's stiff shot from close.
Pakistan were at the receiving end for most of the second half. Alam also did well to thwart Craig Victory in the 55th minute. But much against the run of play, the Pakistanis scored in the 63rd minute from a swift counterattack. Mudassar Ali did the spadework as he ran down the left flank in a passing bout with Kashif Jawad and laid the ball on a platter for Salim Khalid, who had been introduced into the game just two minutes earlier, to tap home.
With time running out the Aussies launched an all-out attack and reduced the margin in the 65th minute when Dean Butler caught the Pakistani defence napping as he made the best of a quick one-two between Victory and Michael McCann.
Almost at the call of time, Australia forced their fourth penalty, the third of the second session. With the clock stopped, Schubert, who took the flick, did well to capitalise on the rebound off Alam's pads and score, ending the match on even terms.
