Pakistan beat India to enter final

Indervir Grewal

Tribune News Service

Bhubaneswar, December 13

Pakistan beat India 4-3 in a thrilling semifinal of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament, silencing a vociferous home crowd and setting up a final with Germany.

The two teams went into the third quarter at 2-2, and Pakistan captain Mohammad Irfan put Pakistan ahead at 3-2 when he scored off a penalty-corner. The Indians reacted quickly when, three minutes later, Gurbaj Singh fired a cross into the D and Nikkin Thimmaiah neatly deflected in the ball to make it 3-3.

India failed to convert a penalty-corner in the 10th minute of the final quarter. Then, 90 seconds from the end, Pakistan’s Arslan Qadir calmly collected a ball in the D, evaded an Indian defender and struck the winner. Silence reigned at the Kalinga Stadium.

India had scored the first goal, in the 11th minute of the match, when Nikkin Thimmaiah's ran deep into the Pakistan resulted in a penalty-corner, and Gurjinder Singh slammed in the ball.

Qadir made it 1-1 in the second minute of the second quarter with a stunning strike into the top of the goal.

Then, in the second minute of the third quarter, a diagonal cross from the right flank found a lonely Muhammad Waqas in the D, and he made no mistake in sending the ball in. Eleven minutes later, Akashdeep put ball through to Dharamvir, who scored to make it 2-2.

Then came the final-quarter thrills, but there was no joy for India and the fans when it all ended.