Asian Champions Trophy: India send Pakistan packing

India skipper Harmanpreet Singh (second from right) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Pakistan at Chennai yesterday. Pic/PTI

India routed Pakistan 4-0 and sent them packing in a rather one-sided Asian Champions Trophy encounter at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday. It was Pakistan, who drew first blood though before being unfairly denied a goal in the very second minute. Abdul Shahid Hannan trapped a ball inside the Indian box and pushed it onto goalkeeper Krishan Pathak's pads.

The ball rebounded onto his body and Hannan tapped it in with umpire Hyosik You rightly awarding a goal. However, the Indian players opted for referral and the video umpire shockingly awarded a penalty corner instead, claiming that Pathak had dangerously lifted the ball onto Hannan's body. Ideally, the advantage rule should have been applied and the goal should have stood. Muhammad Khan's drag flick was blocked by Pathak off the resultant PC.

Brilliant Harmanpreet

In the end of the quarter, India opened the account when a Harmanpreet Singh (15th minute) penalty corner drag flick beat Pakistan goalkeeper Akmal Husain all ends up. India earned their second PC in the 23rd minute, and again Harmanpreet made no mistake, putting the hosts two up. Moments later, an Indian attack proved just why Pakistan's early goal should have stood.

A long ball inside the Pakistan box was dangerously lifted by a Pakistani defender towards India's Gurjant Singh, who tapped the ball goalward. Goalkeeper Hussain saved it, but German umpire Tim Meisssner did the right thing by not blowing his whistle for a penalty corner and instead played the advantage rule to allow Gurjant to take that shot. India earned two back-to-back short corners moments later, but Harmanpreet (30th min) failed to breach the Pakistan defence.

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Early in the third quarter, India were awarded their fifth penalty corner when Gurjant was stick-checked. This time Jugraj Singh (36th min) converted to make it 3-0. India continued the offensive, but this time local lad Karthi Selvam failed to beat the opposition goalkeeper. The ball rebounded twice, falling for Gurjant first, which he missed, and then for Sukhjeet Singh, who also failed to beat the 'keeper. The Indians kept coming though and almost scored again. Harmanpreet thought he had got a rare field goal when he flicked one in, but the ball was deemed dangerous.

Inexperience Pak

Meanwhile, Pakistan's inexperience showed as their forwards made incisive runs, but couldn't add the final touch for a goal. Abdul Rana, Zikriya Hayat and Rooman were brilliant in their skill and movement but couldn't get that elusive goal which could have kept them alive in the tournament. With five minutes to go, Mandeep Singh hammered in a field goal as India completed the rout.

India's forwards however, missed over half-a-dozen scoring opportunities, with Mandeep leading the pack and Gurjant, Sukhjeet Singh and Akashdeep Singh emulating him. Later, Pakistan coach Saqlain Muhammad was spot-on when he claimed that poor umpiring had denied them what would have been a crucial early goal that could have set up the tempo of the match differently. Pakistan finished fifth.

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