PESHAWAR, Feb 20: Ball-Possession was the key as Indians took control of the mid-field to register their first win in the Pakistan leg of the nine-match series at the Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium, here today.The worn-out, slippery turf here saw a slow-paced game where the visitors showed better control and co-ordination to wrest the initiative. A goal in each session proved enough to give the Indians the much needed boost for the two matches to come.Fears of a backlash after the unfortunate incident in Calcutta back home were allayed as the packed stadium was more-or-less well behaved. Barring a bottle-throwing incident in the second session, which held up play for a few minutes, the match was incident free.Of course, with India leading 2-1, many spectators made a beeline for the exit with 10 minutes to go. The 2-1 margin in favour of India spoke for the determination with which the youngsters fought today. Four penalty corners went abegging, but with Pakistan deciding to rest some experienced players,India got the space to dominate.Pakistan began without their right wing combination of outside right Mohammed Irfan and schemer Mohammed Sarwar. Besides, the stocky defender Danish Kaleem also sat out as Naveed Iqbal got a look-in. Sarwar was introduced in the second session, but failed to get support from Haider Rasool. He and Mohammed Farooq were drafted into the Pakistan side after the series was clinched in Karachi on Thursday.India began with two roving forwards and three withdrawn in the hope of striking through counter attacks. The first goal came when playmaker Mohammed Riaz moved past two defenders to send a pass to Bajit Singh Dhillon who flicked past a diving Ahmed Alam.With the Indian mid-fielders giving a composed display, there was sting in the Indian attacks and soon Gagan Ajit Singh's reverse flick flew past the right post. India went 2-0 up at the start of the second session. Riaz's pass from the right found Gagan Ajit Singh whose scoop from an acute angle was cleared on the line byNaveed Iqbal. Chauhan pounced on the rebound to push in. Suhail Abbas got his eighth goal of the series when he beat goalkeeper Poonacha with a low, hard flick off Pakistan's second penalty corner. That was the only high point for the hosts in a match they could have lost by a bigger margin.
