LAHORE, March 8: Displaying better strategy in converting short-corners, Pakistan stunned world champions India 3-0 to record second win in the four-nation Junior hockey tournament at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.

Pakistan earned four penalty-corners and successfully converted three - two indirectly and the third through a direct hit. The Indians missed all six penalty-corners.

"Yes we unlike the match against Japan tried to get maximum penalty-corners in an attempt to get as many goal scoring chances as possible but were disappointed by the poor finishing of our forwards," captain Shakeel Abbasi said in post match comments.

Shakeel remarked that his team committed fewer mistakes against India as compared against Japanese. Coach Tahir Zaman did not agree that Pakistan's defence committed errors which allowed India to get six penalty-corners which could have proved disastrous.

"Our defenders definitely denied the Indians goal scoring opportunities by warding off their attacks," he said. In the 59th minute Pakistan's Tariq Aziz was a victim of unfair tactics by the Indians and thereafter Pakistani players did the same with Nitin Kumar.

Following the incident Pakistan's Khalid Mahmood was given marching orders by the umpire who showed him a 'yellow card' for dangerous play. Harendra pointed out that he was not disappointed with the defeat since it was not a World Cup encounter.

"We are here to learn and prepare the team for the mega event." Asked if he felt the absence of Sandeep, the coach said "No" and added they were on a training trip and were trying to test the best combination.

India missed its first scoring chance in the fourth minute when captain Prabodh Tirkey, standing three feet from the goalpost, failed to beat Pakistan goalkeeper Nasir.

Pakistan's Akhtar Mohammad also missed a chance in the 14th minute. India earned back-to-back penalty-corners in the 22nd minute but failed to capitalize the opportunities. Pakistan launched the most dangerous move in the 28th minute when Shakeel picked the ball from the centre and exchanging one pass with Akhtar, reached the top of the circle and got the first penalty corner.

Home team's penalty-corner specialist Imran Warsi's hit struck the bar and returned back to Shakeel who scored with a reverse flick to give his side 1-0 lead. Pakistan earned their second penalty-corner but this time an Indian defender foiled the attempt.

India's third short-corner attempt was foiled by goalkeeper Nasir in the 50th minute. Pakistan doubled the lead in the 56th minute off the third short-corner when Khalid Mahmood found the net off an indirect try. Two minutes later he was shown the card.

On the offensive, Pakistan made the score 3-0 through fourth penalty-corner as the Indians looked disjointed. Pakistan gave Mohammad Imran a chance to convert the short-corner in the 66th minute. His powerful push landed right into the cage to seal the fate of the match.

The win increased Pakistan chances to enter the semi-finals as the top team. A last-gasp goal by Hiroto Noda, helped Japan earn 4-4 draw despite taking a firm 3-1 lead at one stage against South Africa.

The Japanese, who were beaten 4-2 against Pakistan on Monday, scored their first goal through Yoshiro Sugai in the 4th minute. South Africa levelled the score six minutes later when Pierre Geldenhuys converted the first penalty-corner.

Japan went 3-1 up when Kazuki Shiokawa (23rd minute) and Tomonori Ono (35th) scored back-to-back goals. South Africa fought back and scored thrice to take 4-3 lead for the first time.

Lungile Tsolekile (46th minute), Wayne Madsen (62nd) and captain Andrew Cronje (67th) were the scorers. But it was Noda who stole the limelight by scoring a spectacular equaliser. He received the ball at the centre and without exchanging any pass entered the circle beat the goalie to find the target seconds before the final whistle.

WEDNESDAY'S FIXTURE: India vs South Africa at 2pm.