(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-08 22:43

China fought back from two goals down to drawn with Pakistan 2-2 at the 2007 men's International Hockey Tournament preliminaries in Beijing on Wednesday.

Pakistan dominated the first half, with Muhammad Imran opening the scoring in the 19th minute and Ullah Ihsan making it 2-0 in the 43rd minute.

China stepped up counterattacks soon after the second half began and Na Yubo scored a goal in the 61st minute.

Four minutes after thundering cheers were raised by Na's stroke, Jiang Xishang changed the score to 2-2 which was kept to the end of the match.

"China played very well. They have improved a lot," said Pakistani coach Ul Hassan Manzoor.

"I am really, really satisfied with the quality of the match," said China's South Korean coach Kim Sangryul, though he admitted that "at some point our players made me crazy when they misunderstood each other."

Despite the result, Kim recognized that Pakistan was still better. "But I am sure we will be better next year," said Kim, who thumbed up for his players after the equaliser in the pitch.

Australia won over Malaysia 2-0 in the other match of the men's group held earlier in the day.

Eight teams from six countries, four each in the men's and women's events, are participating in the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Hockey Tournament held on the hockey field from August 8-13 in the Olympic Park.