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| June 19, 2005 | Sunday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1426 |
Pakistan rout India
LAHORE, June 18: Pakistan thrashed arch-rivals India 3-0 in the third match to square the three-match soccer series at Punjab Stadium on Saturday night. The victory was also first ever by Pakistan on its soil against India.
The final game proved one-side affair as the Indians hardly made a dangerous move, while hosts dominated the proceedings from the kick-off.
Pakistan were under immense pressure since the opening game in Quetta last Sunday ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw and visitors won the second clash 1-0 in Peshawar on Thursday.
Quetta game’s hero Mohammad Essa, who had helped Pakistan draw 1-1 with a free kick with 12 minutes from time, once again excelled when he drilled home following a slip-up by India goalkeeper Satish Kumar and a defensive lapse in the second minute of the game.
Former captain Tanveer Ahmad put Pakistan in a dominating position in a match that did not see much fireworks, with a clever flick from 14 yards off a free kick a minute before lemons.
Indians paid heavily again for slap dash defence as Arif Mahmood slotted home off a left side pass past stranded Satish barely few seconds into the second session.
The visitors could have reduced the margin, but were left ruing when referee disallowed an Abdul Hakkim effort for an offside in the 60th minute.
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