Dhaka – China overcame a big challenge beating Oman by 2-1 margin in a Pool B match of the eight-team Hero10th Men’s Asia Cup Hockey at Maulana Bhashani National Stadium on Saturday.With this win, China kept their hope of the Super-4s berth alive, starting their campaign with 1-7 loss against Malaysia. While bottom-placed Oman were staying out of the last four race with two successive defeats as they lost their first match by 2-7 goals to four-time title champions and current holders South Korea.In the day’s match, both teams started with attacking strategy in the first quarter and China drew the first blood with a successful penalty stroke converted by Du Talake in the 7th minute, 1-0.Oman equalised the margin in the 8th minute as Rashad Al Fazari came up with a lethal drag-flick to convert a penalty corner, 1-1.The following minutes saw Oman play impressive hockey with praiseworthy skills and good structure punishing the Chinese side forwards with good defence that kept them from making any successful forays into Oman’s circle.The second quarter was barren with both teams vied for goals but was hard to come by missing the net.China finally made a breakthrough in the 44th minute to register the win with the much-desired field goal as Quyang Guan went past the Oman defenders to fire the net deceiving goalkeeper Fahad Al Noufali, 2-1.The sultry Dhaka weather slowed down the pace of the game a tad bit in the remaining final quarter with Oman making some desperate attempts to create successful circle penetrations, but missed out close chances to score.UNB news agency
