India’s Aiyappa Mukkatira (left) tries to dispossess Pakistan’s Shakeel Abassi during their Asian Champions Trophy hockey match at Al Rayyan Stadium yesterday. India won 2-1. RIGHT: Fans enjoying the match between India and Pakistan. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT
Doha: Defending champions India edged past arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 to move into the final of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Al Rayyan Stadium.
With yesterday’s win India collected their fourth successive win to become the only unbeaten team in the six-nation tournament.
India thus qualified for the December 27 final with one match still in hand against Malaysia.
In earlier matches, the Men in Blue had defeated China (4-0), Japan (3-1) and Oman (11-0).
Yesterday, the capacity crowd for the India-Pakistan clash went home satisfied having watched a thriller.
The teams played fast and counter-attacking hockey through the 70-minute dual.
Pakistan fresh from their Champions Trophy bronze medal, which they won after a gap of eight years, set up a lively pace in the first quarter, but could not sustain it for long.
In the next two quarters of the first half India had the upper hand, but, could not break through the rival defence.
After a barren first half, India drew first blood in the 36th minute through Rupinder Pal Singh, who converted the penalty stroke much to the delight of the Indian crowd, who were outnumbered in sheer numbers by their rival supporters.
India were awarded the penalty stroke when Pakistan’s Waseem Ahmed’s hand came in the way of Sunil’s goal bound ball.
Chingiensana Kangujam, who had an outstanding match made it 2-0 in the 49th minute through his individual brilliance.
Pakistan pulled one back through Waqas Muhammad in the 57th.
After the end of the fourth round matches, in the round-robin tournament, India have 12 points, while Pakistan and Malaysia both have seven points.
The top two teams from the round-robin tournament will qualify for the final.
India opponents in the final will be either Pakistan or Malaysia.
In the last and fifth round matches of the eight-day tournament tomorrow, Malaysia will clash with India while Pakistan will take on Japan in the second match.
Both, Malaysia and Pakistan need wins in their respective matches to keep their hopes alive for the final.
Pakistan will hope to get past Japan and by a good margin in the second match of the day and then hope India do them a favour by beating Malaysia.
The goal difference is likely to come into picture, if both Pakistan and Malaysia win their last round matches tomorrow.
Yesterday, Malaysia, the other unbeaten team besides Pakistan before the round four matches of the tournament, crashed to a stunning 2-1 loss to China.
In another match, Japan picked up their first win of the tournament trouncing minnows Oman 7-1. the Peninsula
