- AFP
- 7 Hours ago

FIH Nations Cup: Pakistan narrowly defeated by France
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- Web Desk
- Jun 06, 2024

GNIEZNO: Pakistan faced a narrow 6-5 defeat against France on Wednesday during the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland.
The match was characterised by a flurry of goals from both sides, offering spectators an exciting showdown between France and Pakistan as both teams showcased their utmost effort.
Read more: FIH Hockey Cup: Pakistan beat Canada by 8-1 goals
France started off on a strong note, taking an early lead with Victor Charlet scoring from a penalty corner. Rogeau Blaise then scored a second goal by the 14th minute. France ended the first quarter with a 2-0 lead against the Green Shirts.
Less than 25 minutes into the game, Gaspard Baumgarten scored the third goal for the European team. This was followed by Charlet’s second goal exactly at the 25th minute mark.
Pakistan quickly staged a comeback with Mahmood scoring the Green Shirts’ first goal immediately after France scored its fourth. Similarly, Murtaza Yaqoob added the second goal for Pakistan, also from a penalty corner.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, France’s Charlet scored his third goal, helping France lead the match 5-2.
The men in green managed to completely turn the tide of the game in the final quarter. Pakistan quickly leveled the score to 5-5 with goals from Rana Waheed, Abdul Rehman, and Hannan Shahid.
Like a Templar knight, Charlet played the most important role in securing France’s win. He scored the team’s sixth goal that helped them defeat the Green Shirts narrowly. This was also his fourth goal in the entire match.
The men in green could have avoid letting France score so many goals if their goalkeeper had performed better in blocking. The goalkeeper faced heavy criticism for being unable to block several easier goals.
Despite the defeat, Pakistan’s journey in the tournament is not over yet. Both Pakistan and France qualified for the semi-finals.
Read more: Hockey: Pakistan draws, Kiwis and Poland dominate in FIH Nations Cup
Pakistan’s upcoming match against New Zealand on Saturday presents an opportunity for the team to bounce back and vie for a spot in the final.
