HULUNBUIR: Skipper Harmanpreet Singh made the difference as he converted two penalty corners to hand unbeaten India a close 2-1 win over arch-rivals Pakistan in their final league match of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at the Moqi Training Base on Saturday.

It was India’s fifth consecutive win in the six-team round-robin competition. Pakistan took the lead through Ahmad Nadeem (eighth minute) before Harmanpreet (13th, 19th) converted two penalty corners to lead India to victory, inflicting Pakistan’s first loss in the tournament.

Both India and Pakistan have already qualified for the semi-finals. The victory also enabled India to maintain their supremacy over Pakistan since 2016.

The first quarter saw end-to-end action with both the teams giving their all to gain the bragging rights. The Indians started brightly dominating the early share of exchanges but Pakistan grew in confidence as the match progressed.

India were at the receiving end for the first time in the tournament when Pakistan drew the first blood. It was a selfless Hannan Shahid whose brilliant work from the midfield split the Indian defence and Ahmad found himself at the right place to direct the ball into the Indian goal.

A stunned India kept up their composure and patiently built their attacks and secured their first penalty corner in the 13th minute and skipper Harmanpreet scored with a powerful drag-flick to the left of the hapless Pakistan goalkeeper.

The Indians continued to press in the second quarter and gained their second penalty corner in the 19th minute and once again the Pakistan defence had no answer as Harmanpreet was bang on target as India went up 2-1.

While India were the better side in terms of possession in the second quarter, Pakistan also had their chances, penetrating the rival circle on quite a few occasions.

Just 45 seconds from half-time Pakistan had an opportunity to draw level through a penalty corner but they wasted the chance as Sufyan Khan’s flick, which hit the top of the bar, was rejected for a raised ball.

The Indians sustained possession after the change of ends and secured their third penalty corner in the 37th minute, but Pakistan defended bravely.

Thereafter, a sustained spell of attacks helped Pakistan to bag four penalty corners in quick succession but lacked the firepower to breach the Indian defence.

In the last quarter, both the sides stitched relentless attacks and India secured three more penalty corners but failed to convert.

The match also witnessed a heated encounter between Harmanpreet and Pakistan’s Rana Waheed Ashraf after the latter shouldered Jugraj Singh inside the Indian circle.

Jugraj was felled by the impact and was seen grimacing in pain. Harmanpreet and Jarmanpreet Singh were quick to counter the offender.

The on-field umpires and Pakistan captain Ammad Butt and other players of both teams rushed in to control the situation but Waheed was shown yellow card, which resulted in a 10-minute suspension after the umpire went for a referral for a serious misconduct.

“Pakistan gave us a wonderful fight,” India’s Nilakanta Sharma said after the match. “Although we won, we were not happy because we kept losing the ball and it got us in trouble, so we need to improve.”

While India finished top with 15 points, previously-unbeaten Pakistan ended the round-robin on eight points in second place and face China for a spot in the final on Monday after the hosts ended in third place on six points after a 2-0 win over Japan in the last game of the day.

Backed by a boisterous home crowd of some 15,000, China withstood a late Japanese onslaught and held out for the win,

Chen Benhai gave the hosts the lead with a fine field goal in the first quarter following an enterprising team move. But the highlight of the match was Chao Jieming’s stupendous solo effort in the second quarter.

The 26-year-old cut in from left, dissecting the Japanese defensive line before smashing an unstoppable shot to the far post.

Japan, already out of the running for the semi-finals, continued to push but China held their nerves to confirm a spot in the semis.

“We definitely wanted to win today and make the semi-final,” Chen said after the match. “We will go back to the hotel and discuss how we can prepare for our next match against Pakistan on Monday.”

China’s victory pushed Malaysia down to fifth place with South Korea having already confirmed a spot in the semis with a 3-3 draw against the Malaysians in the day’s first match.

The Koreans, who also had six points, finished behind China due to an inferior win-loss record and face India in Monday’s other semi-final.

Malaysia, who will face bottom side Japan in the fifth-place game, were left to rue conceding a late leveller to Korea with Yang Jihun scoring in the last minute to secure a crucial point for his side.

Yang had scored a fourth minute opener for the Koreans but goals by Azrai Abu Kamal (28th) and Norsyafiq Sumantri (35th) gave Malaysia the lead. Cheoleon Park levelled matters in the 42nd but Faizal Saari’s 55th-minute strike had seemed enough for Malaysia until Yang’s late intervention.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2024