Pakistan men’s hockey team continued their tough start in the FIH Pro League with a 5-1 loss against Argentina at the Santiago del Estero Hockey Club on Tuesday.
Argentina dominated from the beginning, combining clinical penalty corners with sharp aerial play to secure a commanding victory. This win moved Argentina to the top of the Pro League standings with 11 points.
Pakistan, meanwhile, faced their fourth consecutive loss and remain at the bottom of the table. Nicolas Della Torre opened the scoring for Argentina with a deflected drag flick from a penalty corner that beat goalkeeper Muneeb Ur-Rehman.
Argentina controlled the midfield and exploited space behind Pakistan’s defense. Joaquin Toscani set up Bautista Capurro for a second goal, giving Argentina a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Capurro then scored again in the second quarter after Maico Casella created an opportunity following a failed Pakistani clearance.
Pakistan briefly responded in the third quarter when Waheed Ashraf Rana scored with a high shot, cutting the deficit to 3-1. However, Argentina quickly regained control. Tadeo Marcucci assisted Tomas Domene, whose penalty corner and follow-up rebound by Tobias Martins sealed a 5-1 lead. Domene was named Player of the Match for the second consecutive game.
The final quarter remained scoreless as Argentina comfortably maintained their lead. Pakistan’s campaign in the FIH Pro League has been challenging, with nine matches played, 20 goals conceded, and only eight scored, leaving them with a goal difference of minus 12.
Pakistan began their campaign with a 5-2 loss to the Netherlands, followed by a narrow 3-2 defeat to Argentina and a 7-3 loss in a rematch against the Dutch.
The team will now prepare for the Australia leg of the Pro League in Hobart in February. They will face Australia on February 10 and 13, and Germany on February 11 and 14. Pakistan aims to recover from their poor start and improve their performance in upcoming matches.
In other news read more about: Pakistan could face suspension by International Hockey Federation.
