QUETTA, June 12: Striker Mohammad Essa scored from a free kick on Sunday to help Pakistan hold India 1-1 in the thrilling opening match of the first football series played between the South Asian rivals. An enthusiastic crowd of 20,000 fans cheered as Essa scored the equaliser after India’s 65th minute goal from Sunil Chetri following a barren first half.

Essa, the top scorer for Pakistan in last year’s SAF Games, where his side beat India in the final, held his nerves to score with just 12 minutes left.

The second match is scheduled at Peshawar on Thursday and the last match will take place at Lahore on Saturday — both to be played under lights.

Pakistan matched India move for move in the first half during which the visitor’s captain Shanmugam Venkatesh helped India create three good scoring chances — all thwarted by home team’s impressive defence.

India, without their ace striker Baichung Bhutia, who missed the tour due to fitness problems, dominated the second half.

Chetri, who failed to capitalise on two good chances in the first half, found net during a goal-mouth melee to break the deadlock.

“We missed at least two good chances in the first half and two in the second. That forced us to change strikers and they too created good chances but we failed to score the second goal,” said Venkatesh.

Pakistan forced a corner in the 77th minute and won a free kick after a foul by an Indian defender, with Essa’s free kick hitting the right post and sneaking into the goal.

“We got urged on by the crowd who were chanting ‘India will win’ and Essa saved our blushes,” Pakistan captain Jaffar Khan said.

“It’s fantastic to hold India who are superior in rankings.”

Pakistan team is ranked 177 to India’s 135th in FIFA rankings.

The football series was initiated by Pakistan to further expand bilateral sporting ties after India lifted a ban imposed in 2000 because of political tensions.

Amid a thaw in relations in 2003 India’s cricket team toured Pakistan last year for the first time since 1989 and Pakistan made the return trip this year.

The two countries also played an eight-match hockey series on both sides of the border last year.

Organsiers kept tight security with over 600 policemen on the ground for the match in Quetta which has been hit by a mini-tribal revolt.—AFP