India vs Pakistan Highlights, Asian Champions Trophy Hockey: IND beat PAK 2-1 to remain unbeaten

Player of the Match is Nilkanta Sharma. He says in th presentation: “Pakistan gave us a wonderful fight. When we didn’t have the ball, we struggled. We have new players and we need to work.”

“When we were in Paris, I learned a lot. I know and learned to protect the ball when I have it”

Match statistics

🇮🇳 India beat 🇵🇰 Pakistan 2️⃣-1️⃣ to remain unbeaten in the 🏑 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy. Harmanpreet scoring the goals to turn things around for India after Ahmad Nadeem had opened the scoring

With 11:48 to go, India have been awarded a penalty corner. Faisal is convinced the ball was raised and it should not be a penalty corner. The ball struck the hand as Abhishek tried to make his way forward. The TV umpire says the PC decision stands.

Abhishek with the injection, Jugraj with the strike. India mixing things around. The shot is blocked but with the foot. Another PC. Jugraj gets the shot once again only to be thwarted by Hammadudin with a last ditch stick

The on-field official asks TV umpire to have a look for a serious foul. It has been turned down. Sufyan Khan does get a yellow card regardless and Pakistan will be reduced to 10 men for five minutes

Half time statistics

Harmanpreet Singh SCORES! Harmanpreet gets his second and India take the lead. Once again, the India captain converts a penalty corner and goes the same direction as he did the first time. To the left of the keeper, big gap between keeper and the player on the post and it is breached. Sublime piece of hockey!

India 2-1 Pakistan

Jarmanpreet collects an aerial ball, makes his way into the circle and has a fierce whack at the ball. The ball is raised by the keeper with the save and that’s a penalty corner to India. A Green Card to a Pakistan player as well and Pakistan are reduced to 10 players at the worst moment.

From the penalty corner, it is Harmanpreet Singh who steps up and scores! Thundering low hit and it is into the corner. Big gap to make the most of and it is converted

India 1-1 Pakistan

Hannan Shahid with brilliant skills to carry the ball, little dink to move forward and pushes the ball to Ahmad Nadeem who steers the ball goalward without a problem. For the first time int he competition, India trail

India 0-1 Pakistan

Both teams are out in the middle and the anthems are underway

This is how the teams have fared in the Asian Champions Trophy

India coach Craig Fulton: “It’s always to add to the legacy of games between the two countries. It is a privilege. Playing in India or Pakistan is different but we have a game and need to stick to our plans”

Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman: “In sport one has to win, one has to lose. There is tensions involved. We hope to play good hockey. We will focus there. We need to contain India’s progression”

Pakistan skipper Ammad Butt: “India has undeniably played like true favourites in the tournament so far. We will take heart from the matches we have played, and I must say, we have improved in every single game, not conceded cards and have played disciplined hockey. We look forward to doing the same against India tomorrow.”

“The previous few games, we have defended very well against our opponents and against India too, we would want to defend well particularly in PC defence,” he added.

Harmanpreet Singh coming into the game: “I have been playing with some of the players in the Pakistan team since my junior days and we share a special bond with them. They are like my brothers. Of-course, on the field, we will go about the match like we would against any other opponent and make sure we keep our emotions in check.”

“In world hockey, the rivalry the two teams share is unparalleled and I am sure fans across the globe will be waiting for an India-Pakistan match,” he added.

Overall Head-to-head

Played: 180

Pakistan won: 82

India won: 66

Draws: 32

Last 16 matches: India won 14, 2 draws

Pakistan’s last win came in 2016

Last meeting: India beat Pakistan 10-2 at the Asian Games last year in Hangzhou, China

Malaysia and Korea played out a 3-3 draw earlier in the day. Korea with an equaliser in the final few seconds. The draw takes Korea to second in the standings.

India’s playing XI

Hello and welcome to our coverage of Indian men’s hockey team at the Asian Champions Trophy from Moqi, China. After a bronze in Paris, Harmanpreet Singh and Co. have wasted little time to highlight their dominance in the continent at the Asian Champions Trophy. They have won four out of four, and most convincingly.

Today is yet another battle. This one is between the neighbours India and Pakistan, two unbeaten teams in the competition. Recently, India have dominated Pakistan on and off the field. Will we get a close contest today? We will found in just a bit.

Scheduled time: 1:15 PM IST

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