BHUBANESWAR: Pakis­tan edged out hosts India 4-3 in a nail-biting semi-final here on Saturday to set up a Champions Trophy hockey title clash against Olympic gold medallists Germany.

The final on Sunday will be Pakistan’s first bid for a major world title since losing to the Netherlands in the Champions Trophy final in Lahore in 1998.

Arslan Qadir was Pakis­tan’s hero, scoring his team’s first goal and also netting the winner 90 seconds from the end to silence a 7,000-strong crowd.

India took the lead in the 12th minute when Gurjinder Singh converted his team’s first penalty corner with a drag flick. Pakistan drew level four minutes later.

Muhammad Waqas seized on an opening by Qadir to put Pakistan ahead in the 32nd minute, but India ended the third quarter on level terms at 2-2 when Dharamvir Singh hit a pass from Akashdeep Singh.

A goal from either side in the fourth quarter made it 3-3 with eight minutes remaining and a swift counter-attack from Pakistan saw Qadir push in from close range past Indian goalkeeper Parattu Sreejesh.

Published in Dawn December 14th , 2014