Pakistan have been eliminated from the five-nation Hero Asian Champions Trophy after playing out a 3-3 draw with South Korea, remaining winless after their 3rd match of the competition at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium here on Saturday.
Pakistan remained 4th slot, with only the hosts below them in the five-team fray to be eliminated from the race for the final. They have secured only two points from three matches after a goalless draw with Japan on the opening day and suffering defeat against arch-rivals India, They will play their remaining match with hosts Bangladesh on Sunday (Dec 19) at 6 pm, with only pride at stake for both teams.
South Korea end their group phase unbeaten, and strongly positioned to book one of the places in the final. They collected six points with wins against Pakistan and Bangladesh, and drawing with India and Japan.
Current Olympics bronze medalists India have already confirmed one place in the final collecting 7 points with one game still left to play against Japan on Sunday at 3:30 pm.
In the day’s match, Kim Kyu-beom put Korea ahead by a field goal in the 14th minute (1-0) while Afraz leveled the margin for Pakistan, also by a field goal in the 24th (1-1). Later, Afraz of Pakistan was adjudged man of the match
Abdul Rana put Pakistan ahead from behind scoring a goal in the 33rd minute from a penalty corner (2-1) while Ji Woo Cheon neutralized margin for Korea from a counter attck in the 42nd minute (2-2).
Korea took the lead again in the 56th minute by penalty stroke taken by a Jang Jong hyun goal while Abdul Rana sealed the fate of the match scoring his 2nd goal in the 57th minute from a penalty corner (3-3).
Source: United News of Bangladesh