In their last round-robin league match on Wednesday, India easily defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by a score of 4-0 to go to the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament unblemished. India’s captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice in the victory.
Jugraj Singh scored from a different penalty corner in the 36th minute, while Harmanpreet converted two penalty corners in the 15th and 23rd minutes. In the 55th minute, Akashdeep Singh scored India’s last goal after a field play.
As a consequence, India took the top spot in the rankings with 13 points earned from four victories and one tie.
Pakistan suffered heartache when they were eliminated from the competition on goal differential despite ending with the same five points as Korea and Japan.
For Pakistan to advance to the semifinals, at least a draw or a loss by one goal was required.
On Friday, Malaysia and Korea will square off while India plays Japan in the semifinal.
MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, welcomed the athletes from both countries before to the game, and Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin also made an appearance.
Both teams attacked in the first quarter’s opening minutes.
Pakistan displayed the early signs of sparks by repeatedly entering the Indian circle.
However, the Indian defense maintained its composure and did not let any incursions into its neighbors.
Pakistan’s first attempt at scoring came from a penalty corner, which Indian goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak superbly stopped.
In the ninth minute, Pakistan requested for a penalty corner after three Indian offensive efforts from Karthi Selvam, Jarmanpreet Singh, and Mandeep Singh, but the video referee ruled it against the Men in Green.
After a short period of possession, Selvam launched a single assault within Pakistan’s penalty area, but Akmal Hussain, the Pakistani goalkeeper, stopped him in the 13th minute.
Just as the first quarter came to a close, India was awarded a penalty corner, and Harmanpreet promptly scored by powerfully flicking the ball to the left of Pakistan goalie Akmal.
Despite Abdul Hannan of Pakistan starting the second quarter with an assault, India swiftly took the lead with three rapid strikes from Amit Rohidas, Mandeep, and Sukhjeet Singh.
Abdul Rehman’s entry into the area in the 21st minute gave Pakistan a chance to tie the game, but veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh raced out to stop the visitors.
In the 23rd minute, India earned their second penalty corner, and Harmanpreet doubled the advantage with a brilliant drag-flick goal through Akmal’s legs for Pakistan.
The Indians launched a string of assaults, and Shamsher Singh contributed to one of the subsequent four scoring chances.
In the 30th minute, India kept up the pressure on the Pakistani defense with relentless assaults, earning back-to-back penalty corners, but Harmanpreet missed both of them.
The Indians, nevertheless, requested a video referral at the second chance, saying that a Pakistani player’s foot prevented the ball from going into the goal. The video referee, however, denied the home team’s request.
At the break, India was up 2-0 over Pakistan.
After the ends changed, India kept playing with the same fervor and six minutes into the third quarter, they earned another penalty corner. Jugraj scored again to increase the margin by three.
India once again hit the net in the 41st after a string of assaults, as Harmanpreet flashed it in while it was deflected by a Pakistani stick.
But after a video referral for a hazardous ball, the goal was reversed.
With an open goal in front of him, Akashdeep had a chance to give the Indians another opportunity as Selvam passed the ball to him neatly within the box.
In the 43rd minute, Pakistan obtained their second rare penalty corner but squandered the chance.
When Akashdeep deflected Mandeep Singh’s shot in the 55th minute, India increased their lead to 4-0.
In the game, India was awarded five penalty corners, and they scored on three of them.
Manpreet Singh and Nilakanta’s efforts helped India score three minutes into the third quarter, but the goal was disallowed because it went in after striking Sukhjeet’s palm.
Akashdeep scored India’s fourth goal five seconds before the final buzzer thanks to some outstanding one-on-one play between Mandeep and Nilakanta that created the opportunity for the striker.
The Indians attacked till the last minute while Pakistan struggled to assault and maintain control of the ball.
