India 7 Pakistan 4

AMSTERDAM, Aug 22: India fought back from 4-2 down to clinch a morale-boosting 7-4 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their final group match at the men’s Champions Trophy tournament on Friday.

India, who had lost three of their first four matches in the six-nation event, turned the game on its head with four field goals in the last 16 minutes, sealing the biggest upset of the tournament.

They scored seven goals against in-form Pakistan for the first time, equalling their previous best victory margin against their Asian rivals, a 5-2 success in the South Asian Games in 1995.

Pakistan had not previously lost a match in the tournament and had been on track to reach the final with two wins in their first four outings.

They dominated the first half, twice leading by two goals after strikes by Rehan Butt, from their second corner, Nadeem Ahmad and the influential Mudassar Ali.

India, although appearing disjointed, managed to reduce the deficit to 3-2 at half-time with conversions by their corner flicker Jugraj Singh.

However Sohail Abbas put Pakistan 4-2 ahead from a corner in the 42nd minute, and the match seemed to be heading for a one-sided finish.

But India’s corner man Jugraj posed a consistent threat to the Pakistan defence and set up a third goal for India through Deepak Thakur after the Pakistan goalkeeper charged out from a corner.

Four minutes later, defender Jugraj joined an Indian counter-attack and created a fourth goal, Prabhjot Singh levelling the scores.

India were now the more dangerous side on the break and sealed the result with goals by Gagan Ajit Singh, in the 62and minute, and by Thakur, in the 64th.

“Ever since we were children, we were told that we can lose to anyone but not Pakistan,” India captain Dhanraj Pillay said.

Excitement reaches a fever pitch in South Asia during any sports clash between the neighbours, who almost came to war last year over Kashmir.

Hockey, in which India dominated the world in the early half of the century, does not arouse the same passions as cricket but it is a close second.

Following Pakistan’s surprise defeat, group leaders Netherlands are now certain of a place in the final, where they will take on either Australia or Argentina.

Standings

P W D L F A Pts

Netherlands 4 3 1 0 17 11 10

Pakistan 5 2 2 1 21 20 8

Australia 4 2 1 1 17 11 7

Argentina 4 2 0 2 15 15 6

India 5 2 0 3 16 18 6

Germany 4 0 0 4 6 17 0

Remaining matches (times GMT):

Today: (Aug 23): Argentina v Australia (1030) Germany v Netherlands (1300)

Sunday (Aug 24): Playoff for 5th and 6th place (0800) Bronze medal match (1030) Gold medal match (l300).—Reuters