HYDERABAD (India), July 16: Star drag-flicker Diwakar Ram fashioned India’s emphatic 3-1 win over Pakistan with a spectacular brace as the hosts stormed into the 6th Junior Asia Cup final after a violence-marred semi-final here on Wednesday.
After Gurwinder Singh Chandi opened India’s account in the 15th minute, Diwakar came up with twin second half strikes to take the game away from Pakistan.
In between, Kashif Ali (42nd minute) reduced the margin for the visitors but it was just not enough in the end.
India withstood Pakistan’s early onslaught before taking control of the proceedings and Chandi scored an exceptional goal through a reverse flick to put India in the lead in the 15th minute.
The match, however, took an ugly turn in the 31st minute when a scuffle broke out among the players following a brawl between Pakistani player Mohammad Irfan and Chandi.
Soon, they were joined by other teammates and blows were exchanged at the end of which Irfan, who was eventually shown the yellow card, was bleeding.
The umpires called both captains, Pakistan’s Shafqat Rasool and his India’s counterpart Gurbaj Singh, after which the match resumed with Pakistan playing with just 10 members.—Agencies
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