Moqi (China), September 14, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
The Indian men’s hockey team continued their unbeaten run in the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 by registering a thrilling 2-1 win against arch-rivals Pakistan.
The highly anticipated clash between two Asian hockey giants took place on Saturday, where Captain Harmanpreet Singh’s brace (13′, 19′) ensured India’s top spot in the points table. Pakistan’s Ahmad Nadeem scored their only goal in the eighth minute, keeping the game competitive throughout.
Pakistan Takes an Early Lead
The much-anticipated encounter lived up to expectations, with both teams playing at a high tempo right from the start. Despite India’s aggressive approach in the early minutes, it was Pakistan that struck first.
In the eighth minute, Ahmad Nadeem capitalized on a brilliant run by Hannan Shahid, who broke through the Indian defense and set up Nadeem for a close-range finish. This gave Pakistan an early advantage, with Nadeem slotting the ball past Indian goalkeeper Krishan Pathak.
Harmanpreet Singh Levels the Score for India
India, undeterred by Pakistan’s early goal, mounted a swift comeback. In the 13th minute, Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted India’s first penalty corner with a precise drag-flick into the top corner of the net, equalizing the score at 1-1. The remainder of the first quarter saw intense back-and-forth action, but both teams failed to break the deadlock before the quarter ended.
India Takes Control in the Second Quarter
The second quarter began with India ramping up the pressure on Pakistan. By the 19th minute, India had taken the lead, courtesy of another brilliant penalty corner conversion by Harmanpreet Singh. His second goal put India ahead 2-1, shifting the momentum in their favor. Despite dominating possession, India struggled to create additional scoring opportunities, and Pakistan’s defense managed to hold off further threats.
Pakistan did have a chance to level the score with a penalty corner at the stroke of half-time, but Sufiyan Khan’s powerful drag-flick struck the crossbar, allowing India to head into the break with a narrow 2-1 advantage.
Defensive Battle in the Third Quarter
India started the third quarter with more control, passing the ball efficiently and keeping Pakistan on the back foot. The Indian defense stood firm as Krishan Pathak made several crucial saves, denying Pakistan’s attempts to equalize.
Pakistan earned multiple penalty corners during this period, but India’s defense, led by their goalkeeper, managed to maintain their slender lead. Despite Pakistan’s increased intensity, they were unable to break through India’s well-organized defense.
Tense Final Quarter as India Holds On
The fourth and final quarter was marked by high tension and intense physicality. Both teams pushed hard in search of a goal, but the defenses remained resolute. Pakistan’s Ashraf Waheed Rana was shown a yellow card for a foul on India’s Jugraj Singh, giving India a temporary numerical advantage.
However, India failed to capitalize, with several penalty corner opportunities going to waste.
As the clock wound down, tempers flared on both sides. In the closing minutes, India’s Manpreet Singh was also shown a yellow card, leveling the numbers on the field.
India had one final chance to seal the game with a penalty corner in the dying seconds, but Harmanpreet’s shot was blocked, and the rebound was missed by the Indian forward. Nevertheless, India managed to run down the clock and secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Post-Match Reflections: Areas for Improvement
Despite the win, the Indian team acknowledged that there were areas for improvement. Nilakanta Sharma, who was named Hero of the Match, admitted that losing possession frequently had put the team under pressure. He stated, “Although we won the match, we were not happy because we kept losing the ball, and it got us in trouble, so we need to improve.”
India’s Road to the Semifinals
India’s victory over Pakistan not only secured their unbeaten status in the tournament but also positioned them at the top of the points table. They will now face a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 semifinal, which is scheduled for Monday. As the defending champions, India will look to build on their strong performance and continue their pursuit of the title.
Key Moments of the Match
1. Pakistan’s Early Goal: Ahmad Nadeem put Pakistan in the lead in the eighth minute.
2. Harmanpreet Singh’s Penalty Corner Magic: The Indian captain scored twice from penalty corners, in the 13th and 19th minutes.
3. Krishan Pathak’s Heroics: The Indian goalkeeper made critical saves, particularly in the third quarter, to maintain India’s lead.
4. Missed Opportunities for Pakistan: Despite earning several penalty corners, Pakistan failed to convert, with one drag-flick hitting the crossbar.
5. Physicality and Tempers: The final quarter saw tempers flare and yellow cards for both sides as the game grew increasingly physical.
What’s Next for India?
With the semifinals on the horizon, India will need to fine-tune their strategy and address areas where they faltered, particularly in maintaining possession and capitalizing on penalty corners. Their performance against Pakistan, while a victory, highlighted the need for sharper play in high-pressure situations.
As they move forward, India remains one of the strongest contenders for the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 title.
