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| June 17, 2005 | Friday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1426 |
Substitute Hakkim goal stuns Pakistan
PESHAWAR, June 16: India beat Pakistan 1-0 on Thursday under lights to secure at least a share of the spoils in the arch-rivals’ first ever football series. Substitute Abdul Hakkim was on target after 66 minutes, latching on to a cross from midfielder Shanmugam Venkatesh to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after Sunday’s opening 1-1 draw in Quetta.
Pakistan will need to score their first ever home victory over India in Lahore on Saturday to level the unprecedented series, which is being played after sporting ties were renewed in 2003.
The home side’s best chance came in the 13th minute when Atiqur Rehman’s rasping shot was acrobatically saved by diving Indian goalkeeper Satish Kumar.
But it was a rare moment in front of goal for Pakistan, whose passing was wayward and who failed to create chances as they did in the first match.
India bossed the midfield and dominated the first half. They were unlucky to see a second Hakkim strike disallowed for an off-side offence with 15 minutes left, although they did come under pressure in the final stages as home side redoubled their efforts to snatch an equlizer.
The match, played in front of a capacity 15,000 crowd, was made possible after India lifted a bilateral sporting ban, imposed in 2000 because of political tensions, amid a thaw in relations in 2003.
India’s cricket team toured Pakistan last year for the first time since 1989 and Pakistan made the return trip this year. The two countries also played an eight-match hockey series on both sides of the border last year.—AFP
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