Pakistan made heavy weather of their second match in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament against Argentina on Sunday before emerging 6-5 winners. Rehan Butt's goal a minute from the hooter gave the three-time champions full points after the South Americans had wiped out a 0-4 deficit to tie the score 5-5 ten minutes from time.
For the second successive day, Pakistan almost paid the price for complacency. Yesterday, they led Australia till four minutes from the end but frittered away the lead and were forced to settle for a 4-4 draw. Today, they were four goals up by the 25th minute, but relaxed their hold on the match to allow the recent Pan American Games champions to claw back.
Rehan Butt gave indications of what was in store for Argentina when he had the first attempt at goal, but goalkeeper Pablo Moriera was quick to react. But the Asian giants, with their free-flowing play, tasted success within six minutes from their first penalty-corner, Sohail Abbas's drag flick leaving the Argentine defence standing as the ball found the roof of the cage. Incidentally, it was Abbas's 200th international goal.
Abbas repeated the set piece successfully four minutes later to make it 2-0 from the team's second penalty-corner.
Though they were two goals down, Argentina made inroads into Pakistan territory but were unable to have a clear look at goal.
In the 14th mimute Pakistan consolidated their position when Shabbir Hussain, after a one-two with Nadeem, entered the circle from the left and scored with a reverse hit.
By the 24th minute it was 4-0, as Hussain got his second goal, having the easiest of tasks to tap the ball home after the Argentine defence failed to cut off a cross from the right.
Pakistan now looked set to finish with a tennis score, at least. But, like we saw yesterday, they did not take into account the fighting qualities of the Argentines. Four minutes from the breather, Mathias Vila pulled one back for Argentina from a penalty stroke, which was awarded when Lucas Rey was fouled as he entered the circle.
The Argentines started the second session as they ended the first -- in rousing fashion. A long pass down the right saw Mario Almada, the live wire in Argentina's attack, trap, turn to his left and despatch home in a jiffy.
That set up the stage for a grand fightback. Though Kashif Jawad scored from a deflection in the 38th minute to make the score 5-2, Argentina pulled back another goal in the 44th minute when Lucas Cammareri scored following a penalty-corner, the ball deflecting home off a defender's foot.
Now the Argentines were all over the Pakistan goal. They forced a penalty-corner in the 56th minute and their ace, Jorge Lombi, who looked subdued till then, pushed hard and true to reduce the deficit to 4-5.
Five minutes later Lombi brought the scores on par, scoring from a penalty-stroke, which was awarded when Lucas was harshly tackled while advancing in the circle.
The last three minutes witnessed feverish activity as the Pakistanis threw everything into attack in a bid to save face. They forced a penalty-corner but the upright denied Abbas another goal. But with time ticking away, Butt came up with the winner with a great reverse hit after being put in possession following a passing bout between Mudassar and Hussain.