Kuantan: Top-ranked India had to dig deep into their reserves to eke out a 3-2 victory over arch rivals and defending champions Pakistan in a preliminary league match of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) hockey tournament here Sunday.
Young striker Pradeep Mor scored his maiden goal in 13 international appearances to give India the lead in the 22nd minute, but Pakistan then took charge through strikes from Muhammad Rizwan (Sr) in the 31st minute and Muhammad Irfan (Jr) in the 39th.
Rupinder Pal Singh converted India’s only penalty corner in the 43rd minute and Ramandeep Singh came into goal-scoring action the following minute by deflecting in a diagonal cross from Talwinder Singh.
This victory gave India seven points from three outings. India had outplayed Japan 10-2 in their first outing, but were held to a 1-1 draw Saturday by South Korea.
Pakistan forced the first penalty corner in the opening minute when an Indian defender carried the ball in the circle, but goalkeeper PR Sreejesh blocked two shots to ward off danger. Sreejesh first padded the drag-flick from Muhammad Aleem Bilal and then dived to his right to clear the rebound attempt.
India took the lead against the run of play when Pradeep on the right flank latched on to a ball that had deflected off a Pakistani defender. He darted into the circle and sent in a firm shot from a very narrow angle that beat goalkeeper Imran Butt to give India the lead.
Pakistan came back strongly to score twice in the third quarter. The Indian defence left Rizwan (Sr) unmarked as he collected a long diagonal ball and sent in a snap shot into the left corner of the Indian goal.
Press Trust of India
