New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Pakistan brought their Hockey World Cup campaign back on rails with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Olympics silver medallists Spain in a Pool B match here Tuesday.
Having suffered a 1-4 drubbing at the hands of arch-rivals India in the opener, Pakistan badly needed a win to get over their Sunday woes and stay afloat in the race for a semi-final spot. And Abdul Haseem Khan’s double strike (29th minute, 67th) could not have come at a more opportune time for them.

The four-time winners now have three points from two matches, throwing the Pool wide open. England lead the group with six points having won both their ties.

David Alegre was the scorer for Spain, who are also now on three points after their 4-2 victory over South Africa in the tournament opener.

Abdul Haseem’s first session strike seemed to have set up a Pakistan victory till the match at the sparsely attended Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium witnessed high drama in the last six minutes when two goals were scored.

Allegre converted a penalty corner to bring the two sides on an even keel, before Abdul Haseem got the winner by deflecting in a drag flick by Sohail Abbas from the team’s maiden short corner.

The match livened up in the 64th minute as Allegre managed to elude Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar from his side’s fifth penalty corner to score his second goal of the tournament.

It was the second consecutive penalty corner for the world’s number three side who had been pressing hard since the start of the second half and won a series of penalty corners.

However, Spain’s relief was short-lived. Realising their Cup outing was deep in the woods, the Pakistan players went all out, earning a penalty corner in the process.

Penalty corner specialist Abbas, who was unlucky to hit the frame twice against India, let go the drag flick and Khan put his stick to the ball from the left side of the circle to ensure his side’s eighth win over Spain in eleven meetings between the teams in the World Cup.

Earlier Pakistan went into the lead as Abdul Haseem found the target with a firm hit.

Egged on by the crowd, the sub-continental team dominated the proceedings in the first half getting as many as four chances, of which one was successfully converted.

Waseem Ahmed, Muhamad Zubai and Rehan Butt all had a clear look at the goal, but failed to finish off before Abdul Haseem struck to make the scoreline 1-0 at halftime.

Spain also tried to apply pressure in patches but could create only one chance when Pablo Amat addressed a precision pass for Rodrigo Garza but Akbar effected a fine clearance.

Neither team got a penalty corner till the breather.

The complexion of the game changed in the second half as Amat spearheaded a Spanish resurgence with his artistic ball control.

Pakistan, on the other hand, relied on quick counterattacks, but it was Spain who dictated terms for most part of the second session.