INCHEON: Full-backs Muhammad, Muhammad Irfan and forward Abdul Haseem Khan banged a pair of goals as Pakistan topped pool 'B' with a resounding 8-0 victory over Oman in their last league game of Asian Games Hockey Championship here at the Munhak Stadium on Saturday.
Captain Imran and Irfan both converted short corners while centre-forward Haseem Khan played his best game, smashed two field goals. Muhammad Dilber and Umar Bhutta scored one goal each.
Playing in whites, Pakistan made a sluggish start as Oman defenders did not allow them to score the goals till the first 14-minute. Muhammad Imran flicked home the made it first penalty corner seconds before the first quarter to make it 1-0.
However things started to change as Pakistan forwards got into their rhythm as three goals came in space of just seven minutes in the second quarter.
Team's new teenage sensation Muhammad Dilber made 2-0 with a superb field effort in 17 minutes and three minutes later Muhammad Irfan converted the second penalty corner for 3-0 lead after 20th minutes.
Before Omanese could recover from the shock, Haseem Khan made it 4-0 deflecting a smart cross from Shakeel Abbasi.
Pakistan led 4-0 at 10-minute half time break.
Pakistan forced their third short corner in 43rd minutes and Imran's powerful scoop hit the top part of the cage. This was Muhammad Imran's sixth goal of the tournament which made him the highest scorer of the event after first game. With this goal, Imran raised his international tally to 153 from 220 internationals.
Imran was in a position to complete his second hat-trick of the event after scoring four against Sri Lanka in the opening game.
But his carpeted push was brilliantly blocked by Salmeen in the 45th minutes.
Rashid Mehboob tried to score off on the rebound. But fierce strike went off the target.
Haseem completed his brace when fired a field goal on a top circle pass to make it 7-0.
Oman created a couple of attacks in the last quarter and secured a penalty corner. But Pakistan custodian Imran Butt blocked the attempt on 52nd minutes.
Muhammad Irfan, who was sent off a with a yellow card in 52nd minutes, returned on the field and converted his team fifth and last penalty corner in the last 23 seconds.
Now Pakistan will meet Malaysia in the semi-final on September 30 after they Japan 4-1 in their do-or-die match to sail into the last four grade.
