Doha: Qatar held Malaysian Politeknik (MSP) to an 1-1 draw and earned the right to meet Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the final of the Doha Hockey Friendship Festival (DHFF).
Yesterday at Al Rayyan Stadium, the last match of the league stage, Malaysian Politeknik (MSP) needed a win to qualify for the final while a draw was sufficient for the hosts.
MSP started off in an attacking mode and they earned two penalty corners in as many minutes, but were unable to convert.
They continued to apply pressure and were able to force five penalty corners, but Qatar goalkeeper Shannon George stood tall in the goal bringing off brillant saves on each of the five ocassions.
The hosts celebrated the narrwo shaves at their own goal by taking the lead.
Qatari ended the deadlock with Tariq Nazir putting the local side into the lead.
Nazir sprinted into the striking circle and unleashed a powerful reverse hit which landed in the net to take his 1-0.
However, MSP continued to apply pressure but to no avail.
The Malaysians finally were able to score but the goal came too late.
MSP which had a poor conversion for the penalty corners throughout the match finally tasted success.
They managed to convert the first penalty corner in eight attempts.
In the dying minutes, MSP goaded by their an equaliser exerted more pressure on the Qatar defense.
The MSP players came up with several threatning attacks but the Qatar defense were able to repulse them in knick of time.
When the final hooter went, the scoreboard read 1- 1. Many a Qatar fans breathed a sigh of relief as they knew that they had entered the final of thetournament. The final will be played today at 5pm at the Al Rayyan Stadium. The Peninsula
