#AsiaCup2017: Indian hockey team stuns arch-rival Pakistan by 3-1

Dhaka, October 16: Continuing its good run in the Asia Cup Hockey 2017 tournament, Indian hockey team on Sunday registered a comprehensive win over arch-rivals Pakistan by 3-1 in their Pool A match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium in Dhaka. Chinglensana Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Harmanpreet Singh scored for India.

 

Importantly, Indian team finished on top of Pool A with nine points from three games while Pakistan secured the second spot with four points. Ali Shan scored Pakistan's lone goal of the match. The match between India and Pakistan started on a slow note but in the second quarter the men in blue came hard and took the lead in the 17th minute through Chinglesnsana. He slammed the goal after receiving a fine pass from Akashdeep Singh.

Meanwhile, Pakistan was denied by young India goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, who saved Mohammed Attiq's shot from close range as India went into the breather leading by a goal. However, India replaced Karkera with Akash Chikte in the goal at the halfway mark and the young custodian came up with a superb save in the 40th minute to deny Pakistan.

India secured their first penalty corner soon but Varun Kumar's grounded flick was wide of the target. Soon Gurjant had a great chance to consolidate India's lead but his push, after a fine one-two with Akashdeep was saved by the Pakistani goalkeeper. After Pakistan wasted their third penalty corner, Ramandeep doubled India's lead in the 44th minute with a neat deflection off Harmanpreet Singh's fantastic cross from the middle of the pitch.

India extended their lead in the very next minute from their second penalty corner through Harmanpreet. Pakistan, who looked more purposeful in the fourth and final quarter, reduced the margin in the 49th minute through Shan's field strike. Chikte once again came to India's rescue soon when he blocked Pakistan with a fine save from their fourth penalty corner. Thereafter, India pressed hard and earned as many as three penalty corners in succession but wasted all.

Interestingly, both India and Pakistan advance in the round-robin Super 4 stage of the tournament. Japan earlier in the day defeated Bangladesh by 3-1 but could not enter the Super 4 stage as they lost out to Pakistan on goal difference.

India will now move into the second round of Super 4s where the top teams from both the pool will play in a round-robin format before the knockouts. Earlier, in the tournament, India defeated Japan 5-1 in their opening match and then mauled minnows Bangladesh 7-0 in their second encounter of the tournament.