Pakistan suffered their ninth consecutive defeat in the FIH Pro League after a comprehensive 5-1 loss to Spain in a league stage match at the Belfius Hockey Arena on Sunday.
Spain got off to a good start, taking the lead in the 11th minute of the first quarter when Álvarez Nicolás found the net, applying early pressure on the Green Shirts. The quarter ended with Spain with a 1-0 lead.
Pakistan got a penalty corner in the second quarter but failed to capitalize on it. Spain, on the other hand, were clinical in front of goal, scoring twice through Cunill Pepe to extend their lead to 3-0 at the end of the first half.
The Green Shirts showed some resistance after the break and finally broke through in the 43rd minute of the third quarter, when Abu Mahmood scored to give Pakistan a brief lifeline.
Pakistan also received two more penalty corners in the same period, but were unable to capitalize on any of the opportunities as Spain remained in control with a 3-1 lead heading into the final quarter.
Spain changed gears again in the final minutes and added two more goals to seal a dominant victory. Reyne Merc and Álvarez Nicolás each scored to complete the score 5-1.
The emphatic victory marked Spain’s first victory of the campaign, moving it to seventh place with five points and a goal difference of -16.
Meanwhile, Pakistan remains winless after nine consecutive defeats and sits at the bottom of the table with zero points and a goal difference of -30.
