FIH Hockey Series Open ’18 : Uzbekistan Win The First Round

LAHORE: Uzbekistan were the winners of the Pakistan leg of the first round of the Haier FIH Hockey Series Open.

The 4 teams position was as follows:

1. Uzbekistan
2. Kazakhstan
3. Nepal
4. Afghanistan

In the last match of the 4-Nation single league at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, Uzbekistan had an easy 6-2 win over Kazakhstan in the end.

Both the teams had won their matches against the other two sides, Nepal and Afghanistan, in the competition. So this match was a virtual final. As Uzbekistan had a better goal difference, they only required a draw to lift

the  trophy.

Uzbekistan were easily the better side in the first quarter when they did everything other than scoring. A number of open play chances were squandered.

In the early phase of the second quarter, surprisingly Kazakhstan went ahead. They earned two penalty corners

and went ahead via the second through Nurbol Kozhym in the 18th minute, the Uzbeks equalised through the same route as  Khakimov converted a PC. Three minutes, before the change of the sides, Uzbekistan’s brilliant forward Karimov Ruslan made it 2-1 finishing a good combined move.

Halftime: Uzbekistan led 2-1

In the 36th minute, Ruslan scored one of the finest goals of this event. In a remarkable dribbling run, he

eliminated three players before slotting it in. Within two minutes, it was 4-1 as on a beautiful Ruslan pass,

Khaytboev applied a good finish.

Kazakhstan immediately reduced the margin. Their captain Daulet Urmanov in an exhilarating run covered

almost half the pitch, going past a number of defenders. Well inside the opponent’s circle he sent a parallel

ball which was put in by diving Tilek Uzbek.

FIH Hockey Series Open 2018: Day 3 – Kazakhstan Swept Aside Afghanistan

Irresistible Ruslan created another goal. After a double 1-2 with Ruslan, Nazarov sent it past the Kazakh

goal keeper. Kazakhstan had the best opportunity to make it 3-5 just before the end of the third quarter but Yermik

Tashkeyev wasted the penalty stroke.

In the last quarter, off a penalty corner variation, Nazarov had his second and Uzbekistan’s sixth goal.

Uzbekistan beat Kazakhstan 6-2

Scorers:

• Uzbekistan: Karimove Ruslan 2, Oybek Nazarof 2, Khaytboev & Khakimov
• Kazakhstan: Nurbol Kozhym & Tilek Uzbek

Chief guest, Tayyab Ikram, CEO of Asian Hockey Federation put gold medals around the necks of the

members of the winning Uzbekistan team.

Fair Play trophy was awarded to Afghanistan

Earlier, Pakistan President XI, the ‘Guest Team’ won its last friendly match defeating Afghanistan 11-0 .The hosts comprising of young upcoming players easily won all the matches against the four visiting team.