Asian Champions Trophy: Greenshirts tame India 5-4 to sail into final
National team eyes Japan scalp to go unbeaten in regional hockey event .
Pakistan revelled in their victory against India, whom they had beaten in the last edition of the Asian Champions Trophy final to clinch the title. PHOTO: FILE AFP
KARACHI:
Defending champions Pakistan triumphed 5-4 over India to confirm their place in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy underway in Kakamigahara, Japan.
The contest was akin to the traditional encounters between the archrivals — a see-saw battle that saw Rizwan Junior scoring the decisive goal to give Pakistan full points.
Boosted with consecutive victories over Oman, China and Malaysia, the greenshirts struck the opening goal through Haseem Khan in the second minute to set a flying start. However, India equalised through Gurhinder Singh in the 24th minute and went ahead when Amit Rohidas scored in the 30th minute.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Imran ended the deficit in the final moments of the first-half as the score was locked at 2-2.
Rizwan Senior then netted the first of his two goals in the first minute of the second-half and blasted another after Manpreet Singh made it 3-3 in the 40th minute.
India’s Malak Singh made the game even with a 49th minute goal while Rizwan Junior’s strike on a solo field effort in the 53rd minute handed Pakistan a decisive victory.
Win against India always special: coach
Tahir Zaman, the team’s head coach and manager was content with the win.
“We are happy to be the first team to reach the final,” he told The Express Tribune.
“A win against India is always special and it has boosted the team’s confidence for the final. I am impressed with the performance of the youngsters who did not have much international experience before this event.”
Pakistan will play their last league match against Japan today and Zaman wants the team to continue its winning streak.
“We’ll make some changes and give those players a chance who were not given much opportunity in the previous matches.
“But that does not mean that we’ll take Japan lightly as we aim to maintain an unbeaten run. “With the loss, India have ended their chances of reaching the final.
Japan, Malaysia and China remained in contention for the other slot in the final to be played on November 10.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2013.
Defending champions Pakistan triumphed 5-4 over India to confirm their place in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy underway in Kakamigahara, Japan.
The contest was akin to the traditional encounters between the archrivals — a see-saw battle that saw Rizwan Junior scoring the decisive goal to give Pakistan full points.
Boosted with consecutive victories over Oman, China and Malaysia, the greenshirts struck the opening goal through Haseem Khan in the second minute to set a flying start. However, India equalised through Gurhinder Singh in the 24th minute and went ahead when Amit Rohidas scored in the 30th minute.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Imran ended the deficit in the final moments of the first-half as the score was locked at 2-2.
Rizwan Senior then netted the first of his two goals in the first minute of the second-half and blasted another after Manpreet Singh made it 3-3 in the 40th minute.
India’s Malak Singh made the game even with a 49th minute goal while Rizwan Junior’s strike on a solo field effort in the 53rd minute handed Pakistan a decisive victory.
Win against India always special: coach
Tahir Zaman, the team’s head coach and manager was content with the win.
“We are happy to be the first team to reach the final,” he told The Express Tribune.
“A win against India is always special and it has boosted the team’s confidence for the final. I am impressed with the performance of the youngsters who did not have much international experience before this event.”
Pakistan will play their last league match against Japan today and Zaman wants the team to continue its winning streak.
“We’ll make some changes and give those players a chance who were not given much opportunity in the previous matches.
“But that does not mean that we’ll take Japan lightly as we aim to maintain an unbeaten run. “With the loss, India have ended their chances of reaching the final.
Japan, Malaysia and China remained in contention for the other slot in the final to be played on November 10.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2013.