Pakistan suffered their ninth straight defeat in the FIH Pro League after a comprehensive 5-1 loss to Spain in a league match at the Belfius Hockey Arena on Sunday.
Spain started strongly and took the lead in the 11th minute of the opening quarter when Alvarez Nicolas found the net and put early pressure on the green shirts. The quarter ended with Spain holding a 1-0 advantage.
Pakistan were awarded a penalty corner in the second quarter but failed to capitalize. Spain, on the other hand, were clinical in front of goal, scoring twice through Cunill Pepe to increase 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 pulled one back to give Pakistan a brief lifeline.
Pakistan were also awarded two more penalty corners in the same period, but failed to convert either opportunity as Spain remained in control with a 3-1 lead heading into the final quarter.
Spain once again shifted gears in the closing stages and added two more goals to secure a dominant win. Reyne Merc and Alvarez Nicolas each scored to complete the 5-1 scoreline.
The emphatic victory marked Spain’s first win of the campaign, moving them up to seventh place with five points and a goal difference of -16.
Meanwhile, Pakistan remain winless after nine straight defeats, sitting at the bottom of the table with zero points and a goal difference of -30.
