Hockey: Abbas the scourge of home team hopes

England 0 Pakistan 3

Three penalty-corner conversions from Sohail Abbas were enough to give Pakistan a convincing win and open up the possibility of missing Australia in the semi-finals while England will almost certainly have to face the defending champions and an extra play-off game.

The 27-year-old Abbas, who came into the tournament on 162 goals in 133 international appearances, the scourge of British sides in recent major competitions, lived up to his reputation. It was Abbas who scored a brilliant hat-trick against Great Britain in the Sydney Olympics as Pakistan went on to a thumping 8-1 win and then last November in Rotterdam scored two more as the Asian champions beat England 6-3 in the elite Champions Trophy.

Forced on the defensive from the initial push-off, England defended well, an early diving save from goalkeeper Simon Mason standing out. Indeed, it was not until the seventh minute that England ventured out of their half to win their first penalty corner. Sadly, England's specialist penalty corner taker, David Mathews, had yet to make his appearance and the opportunity went begging with Duncan Woods just missing in a diving effort at the far post.

Corner specialist Abbas was on hand when Pakistan were awarded their first corner in the 16th minute to drag the ball into the roof of the net with bewildering speed. Four minutes later he was again on hand for the next penalty corner, conceded unnecessarily by Brett Garrard with a push in the back on Kamran Ashraf.

With a minute to the interval a quick pass from Woods found Mathews going forward into the circle and he won a penalty corner. With his drag shot charged down England had a second try but they could not beat Ahmed Alam.

The capacity crowd came to life a few minutes into the second half with a dazzling run by Mark Pearn into the circle and along the back line to set up a good chance for Jerome Goudie, but Alam was equal to his powerful shot.

While Mason saved well from a third Abbas penalty corner in the 48th minute, he was unable to prevent the award of a another as the ball was lifted into the air. Abbas roofed it into the English net with Mason rooted on the spot to score Pakistan's third.

A couple of minutes later a loose clearance by Pakistan gave Jimmy Wallis the chance of a shot at goal. He at least won another penalty corner, but Mathews' drag rocketed off the bar. The game ended with England defending the circle and Pakistan worthy winners.

England's gamble of retaining Danny Hall in the squad in spite of the near certainty that he would miss the opening crucial game against Pakistan with a twisted ankle, rather than include reserve striker Andy Todd, may have cost them dearly. They were denied the benefit of a fourth field substitute in yesterday's game and found it duly inhibiting against a top world-class side.

England 0 Pakistan 3
Sohail Abbas 16, 20, 52

Half-time: 0-2

England: S Mason; B Garrard, J Wyatt, R Todd, C Parnham (capt); J Gouldie, M Johnson, J Wallis, B Waugh; M Pearn, D Woods. Substitutes used: J Collins, J Peckett & D Mathews.

Pakistan: Ahmed Alam; Sohail Abbas, Zeeshan Ashraf; Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Saolain, Waseem Ahmad; Muhammad Nadeem, Muhammad Sarwar (capt), Kamran Ashraf, Muhammad Khalid, Ghazanlar Ali, Mudassar Khan. Substitutes used: Kashif Jawad, Muhammad Shabbir, Ghazanfar Ali.

Umpires: Amarjit Singh and C McMurray.