Pakistan suffered their ninth consecutive defeat in the FIH Pro League after a comprehensive 5-1 defeat against Spain in a championship 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 Alvarez Nicolas found the net, applying early pressure on the Green Shirts. The quarter ended with a 1-0 advantage for Spain.
Pakistan were awarded a penalty corner in the second quarter but failed to capitalize on it. Spain, for their part, 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 pulled one back to give Pakistan a brief lifeline.
Pakistan were also awarded two more penalty corners in the same period, but were unable to convert any of these chances, with Spain remaining in control with a 3-1 lead heading into the final quarter.
Spain shifted gears again in the closing stages, adding two more goals to seal a dominant victory. Reyne Merc and Alvarez Nicolas each scored to complete the 5-1 score.
The emphatic victory marked Spain’s first victory of the campaign, placing them in seventh place with five points and a goal difference of -16.
Meanwhile, Pakistan remain winless after nine consecutive defeats, placing themselves at the bottom of the table with zero points and a goal difference of -30.
