Pakistan go down fighting against India in ACT final

KARACHI: India won the Asian Champions Trophy title, beating Pakistan 3-2 in the final after an interesting contest in Kuantan, Malaysia, on Sunday.

India have won the title after a gap of five year.

A couple of missed chances damaged the cause of Pakistan, the defending champions. They were also hurt by some laziness of their forwards during the last moments of the game.

The game between the arch-rivals started at a fast pace and Pakistan forwards created two chances but failed to capitalise on them. India got their first penalty corner in the same quarter but Jasjit’s flick went far wide.

The Indians played well in the second quarter. Rupinder Pal Singh, the leading goal scorer of the tournament, converted India’s second penalty corner in the second minute of the second quarter to give India 1-0 lead over Pakistan.

Pakistan’s goalie Amjad Ali couldn’t do much, the ball zipping past him in no time. It was a powerful hit from Rupinder.

Three minutes later Nikkin Thimmaiah relayed a ball from Sardar Singh to Talwindar Singh on the left. Talwindar failed to control his reverse drive and the ball went soaring over the crossbar.

Seasoned Sardar was again in the picture as India increased the lead in the 23rd minute. He worked up from the right flank and put Ramandeep Singh in possession on top of the circle.

Ramandeep’s cross was deflected in by Yousuf Affan to put India ahead by 2-0.

Under pressure Pakistan responded by forcing their first penalty corner which was converted by Aleem Bilal in 26th minute.

Bilal sounded the board with a low drag flick which beat the goalkeeper.

Ali Shan got an open chance in the third quarter from the left side of the goal post, he hit hard and the Indian goalie failed to stop it. The scores were level in the 38th minute.

India had a goal disallowed on review in the 40th minute, when the video umpire nullified Khotajit Singh’s shot from outside the circle as it went into the goal without a touch.

India wrestled the lead back in the 51st minute when Sardar again shaped a goal by working his way up on the left flank and giving a through pass to Thimmaiah, who beat Pakistan’s Fareed Ahmed and netted the goal.

Pakistan forced their second penalty corner in the 53rd minute, but the opportunity was wasted as the push could not be stopped.

In the final two minutes all Indian players fell back into their territory to block the last-gasp efforts of Pakistan.