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India rout Pak 7-4 in Champions Trophy

Amstelveen, August 22
Rising from the ashes like the Phoenix, India scripted a dream win as they humbled arch-rivals Pakistan 7-4 to round off their league assignments on a rousing note at the 25th Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament here today.

India, who trailed 2-3 at half time, scored their biggest ever win outside the country against Pakistan.

Interestingly, in 1990 in the seven-nation BMW Tournament at the very same venue India had beaten Pakistan 4-2.

However, India’s victory margin against Pakistan has been 5-0 at the SAF Games at Chennai.

For India, Jugraj Singh (24’, 35’), Deepak Thakur (52’, 66’) and Gagan Ajit Singh (61’, 62’ ) scored a brace each while Prabhjot Singh (56’) sounded the board once.

Pakistan got their goals through Rehan Butt (19’), Nadeem Ahmad (21’), Mudassar Ali (29’) and Sohail Abbas (43’).

India had beaten Pakistan in their league match in the previous edition of the Champions Trophy in Cologne last year before failing to hold on to a lead in the bronze medal playoff Reeling under three defeats and trailing 2-4 at one stage, India pumped out all their pent up frustration on Pakistan as they unleashed such a flurry of attack that left their rivals dumbfounded and pumped in five goals.

Once India got going there was no looking back for them and their rivals suddenly looked clueless about the game. It was the trio of Jugraj, Gagan Ajit and Deepak Thakur which time and again dented the Pakistani citadel and one was left wondering was this the same team which gave poor displays in the previous matches.

India looked a transformed side and might have spoilt a Pakistan party in case Australia beats Argentina in their last league tie tomorrow. India, who now enjoy a better goal difference than Argentina, then might again face Pakistan for the bronze medal playoff on Sunday.

An emotional Dhanraj Pillay said we had lost 1-7 to Pakistan in the Asian Games final in 1982 and that scoreline had been wrankling the Indian hockey lovers.

“Today we have been able to wipe out that memory,’’ he said.

In one of the most exciting matches in the tournament, Pakistan were the more aggressive showing purpose that came from a confidence grown during the tournament after some fine showing.

India were looking for a win to go back home at least with a win over Pakistan, a win that normally would wash away every sin they have committed in the tournament.

Surprisingly, Gagan Ajit wasn’t thrown into the match early. The boy who led India to the Junior World Cup in 2001 had received news just before the match that he had been awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award and that would have given him an incentive to perform brilliantly on a stage set for him.

Pakistan went into the attack mode straight a way after Dhanraj Pillay committed a error in the 35th second of the match, giving the ball away in the midfield which led to their first penalty corner, thankfully saved by Jugraj who went out of the game for a short while by taking the Sohail flick on his thigh.

In the seventh minute, Kashif Jawad had a wonderful chance but Devesh Chauhan saved on the line. But Pakistan were not to be denied for long. Off their third penalty corner in the 18th minute, Rehan Butt deflected in superbly by beating Kanwalpreet Singh on the goalline.

Pakistan flags waved in the far stands as Pakistan attacked, confidence raised by the early goal.

It was another error in the midfield that led to Pakistan’s second goal. Bimal Lakra had an opening and instead of releasing the ball dribbled and Pakistan captain Mohammed Nadeem snatched it and raced through to the circle, turned and took a reverse hit that went high into the net beating Devesh Chauhan who wasn’t expecting a flash strike. Pakistan now led 2-0 in the 20th minute.

But as expected attack followed counter-attack. Back after receiving treatment, Jugraj played aggressively going up and releasing it early for the forwards.

In the 24th minute, India earned their second penalty corner and Jugraj was right on target with a flick that beat Pakistan goalkeeper Ahmed Alam.

Four minutes later, in the 28th minute, Mudassar Ali was left alone in the circle and a hard hit into the striking circle was deflected in beautifully by Ali for Pakistan’s third goal.

India threw in Tejbir Singh into the attack also, the second time the youngster had a chance to play in the tournament and he did well to make some smart moves in the Pakistan half.

India pulled one back in the 35th minute, just before the break, when Jugraj Singh flicked in again off India’s third penalty corner.

At the break, Pakistan led 3-2.

Three minutes after the break, Pakistan had their sixth penalty corner and Sohail Abbass this time flicked it low and beat the Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan who again expected a high shot. Pakistan now were firmly in the driver’s seat with a 4-2 lead.

But India were far from finished. In the 51st minute, India earned their fourth penalty corner. Jugraj delayed but Alam had charged out and took the shot on the pads. Jugraj picked up the rebound and gave it to Baljit Dhillon who tapped behind for Deepak Thakur to slam the ball in for India to cut Pakistan’s lead to 3-4.

Pakistan had a seventh penalty corner and Jugraj, playing like a champion, rushed out and dived and cleared the ball away.

India finally pulled away to equalise the scores in the 54th minute when Jugraj went upfront, gave the ball to Thakur who shot into the circle where Prabhjot collected and shot in as the ball deflected into goal off Ahmed Alam’s pads.

With the scores at 4-4, anything could happen. And it happened in the 60th minute when Prabhjot collected the ball, raced through the middle and sent the ball to Gagan Ajit Singh with a reverse stick brilliantly shot in for the fifth goal. India had the lead for the first time in the match.

Seven minutes into the match, Gagan scored what was the goal of the tournament. He had the ball from Dhanraj Pillay after weaving past three defenders again and took a reverse shot that went into the goal for the sixth. Suddenly, the match had swung India’s way as they moved fluidly in the middle.

The seventh Indian goal came in the 64th minute when Indian captain Dhanraj Pillay raced through the middle and gave it to Prabhjot who sent it for Deepak Thakur who didn’t waste a second in slamming it past Ahmed Alam.

At 7-4, it seemed that India had shown their class finally in beating Pakistan. With just three minutes left, a scuffle broke out between Saqlain, Prabhjot and Gagan but the Indians and Pakistani’s controlled it as the unmpires broke it up.

In the end, a great match by Gagan was somewhat marred when he went into a free-for-all tackle that got him the yellow card with four minutes to the hooter. — UNI