Sport

India stuns Pakistan to stay in contention

— Photo: AP

Creditable show: The Indians were a determined lot on the field as Pakistan’s Rehan Butt finds out.

Ipoh: India thwarted a series of late charges from Pakistan to notch up a stunning 2-1 win to stay in contention for the title in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament here on Thursday.

Indian drag-flickers Sandeep Singh (sixth minute) and Diwakar Ram (20th) scored a goal apiece, while veteran Pakistani mid-fielder Mohammad Saqlain (58th) netted for his side.

With this third straight win in the tournament, India has now nine points from five matches.

The Indians attacked from the beginning with Shivendra Singh leading the forwardline with command. He provided two good chances that were wasted.

In the sixth minute Sandeep unleashed a power-packed shot to convert India’s first penalty corner for a 1-0 lead.

Three minutes later Sandeep had another chance, but this time his attempt was predictable and the goalkeeper Rashid had no problem in palming it away.

Converting the third short corner, Diwakar Ram gave India the second goal. With both Sandeep and Diwakar ready to have a go at the goal, the Pakistanis were not sure whom to tackle and the younger of the drag-flickers fired his shot in which hit Rashid’s shoulder before deflecting to the roof of the net.

Pakistan was completely off-colour. While the defenders were too cautious, the attackers were half-hearted and tentative. Pakistan wasted as many as four penalty corners in the first half.

Pakistan managed its only goal in the 58th minute, when Mohammad Saqlain scored from a penalty stroke.

The manager of the Indian team, Pargat Singh, regretted the poor show from the midfielders in the second half.

“I am not satisfied. Our midfield was pathetic in the second half. Because they were not receiving the ball the way they should, Pakistan was having numerous counterattacks,” he said.

“In modern hockey you don’t look at the scoreboard. You keep playing good hockey whether you are leading or trailing. That did not happen here,” Singh added.

Both the coach and the manager, however, lauded goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza. Adrian thwarted several attacks from the Pakistan forwards in the second half, which contributed hugely in India’s much-required win.

The Indian goalkeeper also received a pat on his back from Pakistan coach Naved Alam, who said, “he gave you the victory.” “We have lost because of goalkeeping. We lost because our strikers are not doing their job. We had many chances to equalise and go ahead. I am concerned about our strikers,” Alam said. — PTI

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