(c) Jérémy Roussin - All the pictures in the Gallery
The hour of final of the WorldHockey World Cup Qualifier sounded and sets Pakistan in Japan. The victorious team of this match will qualify for the World Cup in India in February, 2010.
For this last match, the Organising Committee saw things in big by inviting « 43 ème regiment of infantry » of Lille to play the national anthems. The Pakistani supporters came massively to support their team. Under the applauses and " Long live Pakistan ", Pakistani players begin hardly the match with a series of dangerous actions of 7 Khan (2nd, 4th, 5th), but the Japanese goal-keeper answers present.
In the 6th min, the Japanese penetrate into Pakistani 22 and obtain the 1st corner kick of the match. They propose a beautiful combination which deceives the Japanese defence but the ball finishes next to the purpose. It is Pakistan which in the 9th open the score. Abbasi gets back a ball and having crossed 3 players, he gives a great ball to Khan who socres. They score again on a penalty corner converted by Abbas.
The Japanese did not say their last word and reduce the score to the 26th on a penalty corner thanks to their captain Tsubouchi. At the end of the first one half-time, the Japanese show themselves dangerous without succeeding in equalizing in particular on a center of Tsubouchi for Tanaka.
Half-time ends on a corner kick of the Pakistani, aimless: score at half-time 2-1 for Pakistan. During the time of the break, the organizers of the tournament rewarded the ball boys for their work throughout the week.
On the return from the changing rooms, Pakistan obtains a corner kick, followed by a penalty which is pulled close by Abbasi. It is in the 40th that Abbas adds a goal to the meter of Pakistan and to its personal meter, with a push in attic window.
The Japanese do not prove unworthy during the 2nd half-time, but they do not succeed in returning in the game of the corner kicks (47th, 65th) and an action of their (67th) captain but the guard pushes away his shooting.
The match ends on a Japanese corner kick which will change nothing …
With this victory 3-1, Pakistan qualifies for the World cup in India.
The medals ceremony is placed under the sign of India to prepare already Pakistan for the World Cup ! Matthieu Durchon was elected " better player of the tournament ", the Pole " Chyla " better goal-keeper.
The tournament is now ended. This event which attracted thousands of spectators was a tremendous opportunity to promote the hockey in the region but also in France. The success would not have been able to exist without the numerous volunteers who, with the smile, put all the public in the best condititions !
