Pakistan outgun India to win bronze

MELBOURNE: Pakistan scooped up Champions Trophy bronze medal, their first in eight years with a 3-2 win over India here at the State Netball Hockey Centre here on Sunday.

In front of a capacity crowd, Pakistan gave dazzling performance in the second half to take the game away from India.

Following a 1-1 stalemate at the breather, Pakistan doubled the efforts in the second half, unleashing barrage of attacks on the Indian defence.

Playing like a well-oiled machine, Pakistan were put in front by Shafqat Rasool who was seen giving his best in the match.

The goal that was scored in the 41st minute saw Shafqat well on target to net the ball in.

The lead injected new spirit into the Pakistan forwards who were seen playing with more aggression from there on.

India concentrated mostly on the attacks from left wing with SV Sunil getting regular feeds from captain Sardar Singh.

Pakistan got a couple of more opportunities before they got their third penalty corner that was struck wide by Mohammad Imran.

On a penalty corner, Pakistani forwards fumbled with series of opportunities. Shakil Abbasi hit the indirect push straight on to the keepers bad. Shafqat followed it up with a full blooded try again stopped with a stick.

Haseem Khan who proved virtually a pedestrian in the tournament spoiled the third chance with Shafqat again getting the opportunity to take the game away from India.

“I am still amazed as to why the ball did not go in as there was good space on the right corner of the Indian goalkeeper,” said Abbasi. “It was an easy goal. But I think that was the moment where the luck was not on our side.”

India got their chances, but either they fumbled with the ball or were forced to make mistakes.

Then came Pakistan’s chance to widen the lead. The Greenshirts that had yet to score a goal from penalty corner got their fifth in the 67th minute.

The tall and broad Mohammad Ateeq sent a carpet shot into the Indian goal to confirm Pakistan bronze.

“I know well that two goals lead well within the last few minutes could guarantee us the bronze. There was no pressure on me as we were already leading. I aimed at the side of the corner and succeeded in getting my first goal of the tournament,” Ateeq said.

It also turned out to be Pakistan’s only goal scored from a direct penalty corner hit.

Though India reduced the margin during stoppage time again on penalty corner through Rupindar Paul Singh, it had no impact on the outcome.

Earlier, the teams exchanged goals in the first half. India took 1-0 lead when VR Raghunath scored on a penalty corner just seven minutes into action.

Pakistan had an answer when they got on the board with 14 minutes left in the half. Muhammad Rizwan Sr found himself alone at the top of the striking circle and fired in a bullet of a shot to tie the game at 1-1. The teams had entered the game as equal adversaries with a 6-6 all-time record.

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