Favourite India continued its winning momentum, defeating Pakistan 3-1, in a Pool A match at the 10th men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Sunday.
Chinglesnsana Singh (17th minute), Ramandeep Singh (44th) and Harmanpreet Singh (45th) scored for India, while Pakistan’s lone strike came from the stick of Ali Shan in the 49th minute.
By virtue of this win, India finished on top of the pool with nine points from three games, while Pakistan secured the second spot with four points.
Both teams have made round-robin Super 4 stage of the tournament. Even though Japan defeated host Bangladesh 3-1 earlier in the day, the victory was not enough for it to enter the next stage as it lost out to Pakistan on goal difference.
Contrary to the result, Pakistan had the first real scoring chance when it earned a penalty corner but wasted it. The Indians came out hard in the second quarter and took the lead in the 17th minute through Chinglesnsana, who slammed home after receiving a fine pass from Akashdeep Singh operating in the wide right.
Three minutes later, Gurjant Singh’s reverse hit from the right flank was just off target. After wasting another penalty corner, 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.
India replaced Karkera with Akash Chikte at the halfway mark and the young custodian came up with a superb save in the 40th minute to deny Pakistan. India then secured its first penalty corner but Varun Kumar’s grounded flick was wide off 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.
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 the lead in the very next minute from its second penalty corner through Harmanpreet.
Pakistan, which looked more purposeful in the final quarter, reduced the margin in the 49th minute through Shan’s field strike.
India kept pressing hard and earned as many as three penalty corners in succession but wasted them all.
The results: India 3 (Chinglesnsana Singh 17, Ramandeep Singh 44, Harmanpreet Singh 45) bt Pakistan 1 (Ali Shan 49); Japan 3 bt Bangaldesh 1 .
