KUALA LUMPUR, March 30: Penalty corner expert Imran Warsi’s winner helped Pakistan edge past junior world hockey champions India 3-2 to maintain their lead in the six-nation hockey tournament at National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.

The clash between the two traditional rivals as usual saw tempers flaring from both teams with Indian goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza being given a yellow card five minutes before full time.

Pakistan took the lead in the 19th minute when Mohammad Arif struck off a field attempt.

But India equalised in the 33rd minute through a penalty corner which Sandeep Singh flicked home and took the lead two minutes later when Hari Prasad dribbled past three defenders to slot the ball into the Pakistan goal.

The setback woke up the Pakistan players who launched relentless attacks on the Indian goal area in the second half and were awarded with a penalty corner which Mohammad Imran neatly flicked home in the 59th minute.

Barely four minutes later, Pakistan took the lead again when Imran Warsi converted a penalty corner.

“It was a close game, but we took the lead first which had a good psychological effect on the team. I think we should have scored more with the penalty corners but we missed. However, what is important is that we pocketed three points,” said Pakistan’s coach Tahir Zaman.

He, however, was unhappy over the emotion flaring between both the teams.

“It should not have happened. It is spoiling the game and the players should be focusing on the game rather than trying to hit each other,” he said.

Tahir said Imran Warsi and Yasir Islam would sit out the next match as both were injured during the match.

Indian team coach Harendra Singh said: “I’m disappointed with my boys. They didn’t put in enough effort, but in a game anything can happen. Luckily it happened before the Junior World Cup as we cannot afford to make mistakes in the World Cup.

“I don’t know why my goalkeeper was given a yellow card as he made a brilliant save from the left to the right. When that happens, there is bound to be a clash between the goalkeeper and the opposite player,” Harendra said.

Pakistan: Nasir Ahmed, Mohammad Imran, Imran Warsi, Imran Khan, Adnan Zakir, Tariq Aziz, Asim Khan, Mohammad Arif, Kashif Yaqoob, Sajjab Anwar, Yasir Islam.

India: Adrian D’Souza, Sandeep Singh, Praboodh Tirkey, V.S. Vinay, Vivek Gupta, Nitin Kumar, Vikram Kanth, Hari Prasad, Tushar Khandar, Ajmer Singh, Ajitesh Roy.—PPI

Pakistan 3…………..India 2