Moqi (China): India beat Pakistan 2-1 in the last group stage match of the Asian Champions Trophy at Moqi Hockey Training Base, with skipper Harmanpreet Singh scoring two goals.
It was India’s fifth straight victory in the six-team round-robin competition. Both India and Pakistan had previously qualified for the last four rounds.
Moreover, it was one of the most competitive hockey games between the two arch-rivals. The Indian squad held their breath until they won the group-stage match. Harmanpreet Singh’s two goals made the difference after Pakistan claimed an early lead.
Pakistan gained an early lead in the eighth minute of the game when Hannan Shahid sped towards the Indian circle and passed to Ahmad Nadeem. Nadeem was near the goalpost and easily deflected the ball into the Indian goal as keeper Krishna Pathak failed to stop.
Harmanpreet Singh took over in the 13th minute and scored from a penalty corner that hit the top of the right goal post. The other goal came from a penalty corner in the 19th minute, which the skipper glanced just beyond the Pakistan custodian.
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The top four teams from the round-robin format will advance to the semifinals on September 16, followed by the final on September 17.
The last time India faced Pakistan, the eventual champions beat the Men in Green 10-2 in Pool A of the Asian Games. This was India’s largest margin of victory against Pakistan, and the ‘Men in Blue’ had never scored more than seven goals in 180 face-offs before.
India defeated Pakistan 4-0 victory at the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 in Chennai.
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–IANS
