BANGALORE: Kaleemullah had Amrinder Singh rooted to his spot with a brilliant first-half free-kick to send Pakistan on their way to a 2-0 win over India at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Wednesday.

Saddam Hussain added the second late on to silence the 5,000 Indian spectators and ensure a share of the spoils for Pakistan in the two-match friendly series featuring primarily under-23 players in preparation for next month’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Pakistan richly deserved the accolades for putting up a gritty show and for not allowing the home side to make a comeback into the game.

India, who had won the first friendly Sunday 1-0, were found wanting in both attack and defence as there appeared a lack of direction and focus while they sorely missed the inspirational striker Robin Singh who sat out the match with a red card suspension.

In the bargain, Pakistan revelled in the new-found freedom to keep the Indian defence on tenterhooks with waves of attacks that, however, lacked in sharpness to fetch goals.

But it was the hosts who came close to opening the scoring when a dipping long-range effort by skipper Sunil Chhetri was palmed away by Pakistan goalkeeper Muzammil Hussain while Kaleemullah’s shot went over the bar.

PAKISTAN players carry the national flag during their victory lap.—AP

In the 37th minute, Chhetri set up a fine opportunity when he fed debutant Haokip Thonhkosiem whose shot was blocked by Muzammil and the rebound went to Francis Fernandes, the other senior in the Indian squad, who failed to cash in on the chance.

A minute later, Pakistan took the lead.

Lalrindika Ralte brought down Pakistan captain Kaleem just outside the box and the Pakistani spearhead made no mistake with the consequent direct free-kick that gave Indian goalkeeper Amrinder no chance.

A desperate India then went on the offensive, but their moves seemed to lack conviction and were easily parried by an alert Pakistan defence as the teams went into the break with the visitors sitting pretty.

The trend of creating and missing chances continued in the second-half that saw the Pakistan tightening their defence with close marking to repeatedly frustrate the Indians.

The hosts did have a couple of promising chances, but as in the first session, accuracy was often traded for power and these lapses were to prove costly.

Their hopes were finally extinguished when Saddam, Kaleem’s fellow team-mate at Kyrgyz giants Dordoi Bishkek, poked the ball home after a solo run into the Indian penalty box in the 89th minute to spark off Pakistan celebrations.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014