Two penalty corners in the dying seconds of the game — courtesy video referrals — and the resultant goal proved to be India’s undoing in its drawn Pool B encounter against Pakistan at the Gold Coast hockey centre here on Saturday.
India was leading 2-1 and hardly seven seconds remained on the clock when the first penalty corner was awarded to Pakistan, which then failed to find the target. However, Pakistan was successful with another review, complaining that the ball had touched one of the Indian defenders. And to India’s horror Mubashar Ali sent the ball past custodian P.R. Sreejesh with a low screeching shot off the second penalty corner.
In a match, which saw a large section of migrants from both countries spending as much as A$400 for a seat, India started to dominate with well-orchestrated moves through both flanks.
India took the lead when after one such foray S.V. Sunil sent a precise ball into the Pakistan area for Dilpreet Singh to take full advantage of.
Pakistan responded well and tried to reduce the lead but it was India which again scored through Harmanpreet Singh, who drag-flicked a penalty corner for a 2-0 lead.
It was only in the third quarter that Pakistan came back into the game after Muhammad Irfan Jr. tapped the ball in, taking control of a rebound off a Muhammad Rizwan attempt. This gave the side a lifeline which it clung on to before the equaliser at the very end.
The result: India 2 (Dilpreet Singh 13, Harmanpreet Singh 19) drew with Pakistan 2 (Muhammad Irfan Jr. 38, Mubashar Ali 59).
