Pakistan rout Chinese Taipei 9-0 in men's hockey

Doha, Dec 9 (UNI) Former champion Pakistan routed Chinese Taipei 9-0 to remain in contention for a semifinal berth in the hockey competition of the Asian Games here today.

Pakistan toyed with a ever-struggling Taipei side before taking 4-0 lead at break and then continuing with the same spirit to herald their supremacy in the following session.

Pakistan, having six new faces in the team, now need a draw against Japan in tomorrow's match to book a place in the last four.

A hat trick from Muhammad Imran, his second in a row in the tournament, was the main highlight of the one-sided tie.

Pakistan got a whirlwind start with Imran scoring off two successive short corners in the 20th and 23rd minutes and then Yousafzai producing the third goal in the 28th minute. Two minutes later Rashid Imran struck to make it 4-0.

After the breather, Muhammad Zuabir gave Pakistan its fifth goal in the 42nd minute and Sajjad Anwar made it 6-0 in the 47th minutes.

Pakistan found enough flaws in rivals defence and big gaps inside the circle to continue their onslaughts in a manner to which their rivals had no answer.

Imran completed the hat-trick pushing a penalty stroke in the 58th minute and Tariq Aziz translated a penalty corner in the 61st minute with Shakeel Abbasi giving last jolt to Taipei with a field goal in the 67th minutes.

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