Scotland clinging to slim hopes of reaching finals after Pakistan loss
Scotland’s hopes of reaching the finals of the World Cup for the first time took a nosedive when they went down 3-1 to Pakistan in their third pool match at the World League semifinals in London yesterday.
The result leaves the Scots pointless at the foot of their pool, but there is still a slim lifeline if they can beat Canada in their final encounter today. Derek Forsyth’s charges would then leapfrog Pakistan, who have already finished their programme, on goal difference.
Pakistan had most of the early pressure and Tommy Alexander had to look lively in the Scotland goal. The Scots also had an early opportunity with a clever Callum Duke pass towards Alan Forsyth, but it was just cut out by a Pakistan defender.
There was a real let-off for the Scotland defence when an Ali Shan attempt fortunately looped over the bar but it was the Scots who took the lead two minutes from the end of the first quarter. Lee Morton made a surging run into the Pakistan circle and released the ball to Wei Adams, the Dusseldorf striker finding the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
The Scots created several chances in the second quarter. Alan Forsyth smashed a penalty corner effort just past the post, then Morton set up Gavin Byers but the Menzieshill striker sent the ball over the bar. Just on the interval a Forsyth shot brought the best out of the Pakistan goalkeeper at the near post.
In the second half, Muhammad Irfan levelled for Pakistan after the Scotland defence had been carved open.
Pakistan then scored twice from penalty corners in just four minutes, Muhammad Qadir netting from a wellworked set-piece, followed by a low shot from Muhammah Bilal.
The Scots seemed to have dragged themselves back into the contest when Forsyth netted from a penalty corner, but a video referral disallowed the strike as dangerous.
Afterwards, Forsyth said: said: “It’s very disappointing to have two good chances when we were 1-0 up and not take them. Taking these chances would have been a game-changer and allowed us to pull ahead. It was also disappointing how we dealt with the corners that gave Pakistan two goals.
“There’s still an opportunity against Canada. We won’t dwell on the Pakistan result.”