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LAHORE: Courtesy of three goals in the second half, India managed to beat Pakistan 3-1 in the 4th AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers (Group-B) match in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia on Wednesday.
Pakistan had a 1-0 lead against their opponents until the 67th minute and conceded three goals in the last 23 minutes to lose the match.
India dominated early proceedings and in the fifth minute, a nice exchange of passes between Jagpreet Singh and Steven Dias saw Sunil Chhettri get past his marker but his attempt deflected for a corner.
Zesh Rehman rescued Pakistan when he denied Jeje a clear-cut 10th minute opportunity.
Pakistan players then slowed down the game and enjoyed a fair share of possession of the ball.
In the 20th minute, Rahim Nabi struck a superb hit from the left wing towards the centre, but neither Sunil nor Jeje could anticipate the ball and it passed through the net. Pakistan got another chance in the 25th minute amid exchange of passes but Muhammad Adil drove the ball well outside the net.
India went all out in the quest of an equalizer and wasted two corners in the 50th minute but their repeated attacks earned them the leveler in the 67th minute when young Jeje Lalpekhula beat Amir Gul to level the score.
India pressed hard to take the lead and Steven Dias stunned Pakistan in the 90th minute to make it 2-1 and it was left to Jeje to add another in the 4th minute of injury time.
Pakistan lost their first match against Turkmenistan 1-0 and will face Chinese Taipei on March 25.
