INCHEON: Pakistan hockey team manager-cum-coach Sam­eer Hussain has warned his team against wasting goal-scoring opportunities in their gold medal match against India as the arch-rivals face off at an Asian Games final after a gap of 32 years on Thursday.

Also at stake is a place in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and Sameer hopes the defending champions aren’t left to rue their lack of killer instinct in front of goal.

“We’ve scored 26 goals [in the run-up to the final] but we’ve also missed a dozen golden opportunities,” Sameer said on Wednesday. “We’re working on it and hopefully our forwards will come up with a high-quality performance in the final.”

Retain the gold they won in Guangzhou four years ago and Pakistan, who failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup, will secure a direct entry to the Olympic Games in two years time.

The loser, meanwhile, faces a hazardous qualification route and Sameer believes the importance of winning Thursday’s final is not lost on the team.

Greenshirts meet India in Asiad gold medal match for first time in 32 years

“The final is a big game for both teams but we enjoy a psychological advantage having already beaten them at the Games [2-1 in the group stage],” Sameer, who featured for Pakistan at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said. “We’re working on our strategy and tactics to win against India.”

India and Pakistan last met in an Asiad final way back at New Delhi in 1982 where the Indians suffered a stunning 1-7 rout in front of their own fans that included then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In Beijing in 1990 when Pakistan claimed the gold and India the silver, there was no final since the winner was decided after a round-robin league.

Pakistan are the most successful team in the continental games with eight golds, highlighted by four successive wins over India in a final from 1970 to 1982, while India have won the Asiad title just twice, both in the Thai capital of Bangkok in 1966 and 1998.

“Past victories don’t count for much at his moment because right now we have to focus on the task at hand,” Sameer added.

“At the moment the team is in great spirits and we are hoping to carry the momentum in the final. We’re motivating the team to ensure that we successfully defend our crown.”

Pakistan needed a nerve-racking penalty shootout to win their semi-final against Malaysia on Tuesday after the match ended goalless in regulation time while India overcame hosts South Korea 1-0 in the other last-four match.

“Indo-Pak matches are always exciting and we’re looking forward another thrilling final,” Pakistan captain Mohammad Imran told reporters on Wednesday.

South Korea and Malaysia will contest the bronze medal play-off ahead of the final.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd , 2014