Date:06/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/06/stories/2008060661212100.htm

Sport

India edges out Pakistan

Male: A patchy India hung on to two first half goals to edge out Pakistan 2-1 for its second win on the trot in Group A of the SAFF Championship at the Maldives National Stadium here on Thursday. In the Group ‘A’ match that never rose to great heights, India scored through N.P. Pradeep (25th minute) and Steven Dias (45th) scored for India while Pakistan reduced the margin in the 88th minute through Adnan Farooq.

Defending champion India , which began the tournament with a 4-0 thumping of Nepal on Tuesday, was good only in patches and justified its top billing in the first half, only to fizzle out in the second session.

After this win, India is virtually through to the semifinals with six points from two wins after as many matches.

Pakistan, on the other hand, is out of the reckoning with two losses from two matches, having lost 3-0 to host Maldives in its first match.

Close call

Pakistan almost took the lead in the 10th minute but captain Zahid Hammed’s shot from inside the six-yard box was blocked by Indian goalkeeper Subrata Pal and Mohd. Qasim’s subsequent header was again saved by the custodian from the goal line to the relief of a sizeable Indian support in the stands. In the 17th minute, it was the turn of the Indians to raid the Pakistan goal but the unmarked Dias’s shot from just outside the Pakistan penalty area sailed over the bar. Five minutes later, Zahid executed another powerful shot outside the India penalty area, but Pal thwarted the attempt. With both sides having a couple of chances each, no side having the upper hand till then, Pradeep found the space in the 25th minute to unleash a scorcher from outside the box which hit the back of the net.

At the stroke of half-time, India captain Baichung Bhutia fed a thorough pass for hard running Dias who beat the diving Pakistani keeper to give his side 2-0 lead at the breather.

Sunil Chetri got a chance five minutes into the second half but his header was saved by the diving Pakistan goalkeeper. On another occasion, Chetri’s shot from inside the box went over the crossbar.

Pakistan cut the deficit two minutes before full time through Adnan Farooq’s header off a corner. — Agencies