India thrash Pakistan 4-1
India thrashed archrival Pakistan with 4-1 in their opening match of the Hero Honda FIH World Cup in New Delhi on Sunday.
The Indians played brilliant attacking hockey put the Pakistani defence under constant pressure. Pakistan could not play their natural game as the Indian midfield held sway throughout the first half and tackled the ball between the half-line and the 23 yard line in the Indian half.
The Pakistani forward kept waiting for their midfield to counter the Indian attacks and start a steady supply of the ball to them but that didn’t materialise.
On the few occasions they got the ball near the Indian goal, the Indian defenders, Dhananjay Mahadik,Sandeep Singh and Bharat Chikara thwarted them easily.
India went ahead in the 28th minute when Shivendra Singh scored off a rebound off their second penalty corner. Sandeep Singh’s flick was saved by Pakistani goalkeeper Salman Akbar but Shivendra, was lurking nearby, pushed the ball past the last defender to put India ahead 1-0.
Pakistan had a great chance of equalising when they earned a peanlty corner in the 30th minute but Sohail Abbas’s rasping drag flick only rattled the cross piece and fell in.
The Indians, obviously thanking the Almighty for the luck escape, cemented their lead off their third penalty corner when Sandeep Singh flicked the ball home to make it 2-0.
Prabhjyot Singh scored the 3rd goal.
Source : Hindustan Times
Recent Comments