Olympics: Great Britain Hockey Men Defeat Pakistan 4-2

Great Britain's men opened their Olympics with a 4-2 victory over Pakistan, the team one place above them in the world rankings. It was a comfortable win, with James Tindall giving his side the lead in the second minute of the match.

By half-time they were 3-0 up, and though Pakistan did score twice in the second half, Matt Daly scored a crucial fourth goal to end any anxiety that Britain's lead might be overhauled.

In the last six games between the teams, Pakistan have twice scored eight goals, and their front pairing of Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi is one of the quickest, most effective in the tournament.

So the most satisfying aspect of Britain's performance was their solidity at the back. Alistair McGregor had a superb match in goal, producing two fine diving saves to deny Abbasi. He had to be in good form, because Britain were generous with their fouls, conceding five short corners in the first half alone.

None were converted though. The dazzling dribbling skills of Abbasi and Butt were invariably squandered by wayward final passes or shot, but Britain were still lucky when an early effort from a short corner struck the left post.

At the other end of the pitch, Pakistan were significantly less troublesome, their defense in a muddle throughout. Their vulnerability was exposed early on when James Tindall ran on to a through ball in the first minute, cut right past the last defender and drove the ball into the top left of the net.

Rob Moore added a second in the 14th minute, turning and shooting low past the 'keeper after being set up by his captain, Ben Hawes, who was involved again when Ashley Jackson added a third from a short corner in the 29th minute.

While Abbasi and Muhammad Waqas did bring Pakistan back into the match as Britain's concentration waned, Daly's goal was the perfect riposte. He pounced on a loose ball after the Pakistani keeper, Salman Akbar, had made a good save, and flicked it into the goal.

A good start then, but with only the top two teams from each group of six going through they face tougher challenges ahead, beginning with a match against reigning Olympic champions, the Netherlands, on Wednesday.