Pakistan put on a spirited and high-energy performance in their second FIH Pro League match but narrowly missed out on points as Argentina edged them 3–2 in a fast-paced encounter in Santiago on Friday.
Pakistan started strongly, dominating early exchanges with sharp movement and aggressive pressing. Waheed Ashraf Rana came close twice in the opening minutes — first forcing a reflex save from Argentina’s goalkeeper Tomas Santiago, and then sending another close-range effort just wide.
Argentina, despite earning early penalty corners, struggled to capitalise, with Tomas Domene firing a powerful backhand into the side netting.
The home side eventually broke the deadlock in the second quarter. Thomas Habif made a strong run along the baseline before setting up Ignacio Nardolillo, whose pass was smartly turned in by Domene to put Argentina 1–0 up heading into halftime.
The second half sparked into action. Pakistan equalised in the third quarter when Mohammad Ammad brilliantly redirected a Zikriya Hayat pass to level the score at 1–1. But Argentina responded almost immediately — Nicolás della Torre converted a low penalty-corner strike to restore the lead. Moments later, Maico Casella extended it to 3–1 with a blistering high flick after a series of re-awarded penalty corners.
Pakistan fought back with determination, earning their own sequence of penalty corners late in the quarter. Their pressure paid off when Waleed Rana capitalised on a rebound to bring the score to 3–2 just before the buzzer, setting up a tense final quarter.
In the closing phase, Pakistan pressed relentlessly for an equaliser, but Argentina’s tight defensive structure and experience denied them the breakthrough. Argentina held on to secure the win.
Thomas Habif was named Player of the Match. “It was good to get the win today. Yesterday was a good match and today was better for us,” he said afterward.
