India, Pak keep final date

With the victories, both India and Pakistan secured berths in next year’s Junior World Cup to be played in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Indian, reigning world junior champions, owed the win to their goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza who saved two penalty strokes after the energy-sapping match was goalless in the regulation 70 minutes and in the two extra sessions lasting another 15 minutes.

Both teams matched each other’s talents but lacked finishing, resulting in spoiling of several chances in the first two halves.

D’Souza, however, took India to the final by stopping the fourth and fifth penalty strokes from Yong Cheol Shin and Jong Hyun Jang.

India had lagged behind after their penalty corner expert Sandeep Singh, tournament’s top scorer with 14 goals, missed the third penalty stroke but D’Souza saved India in the end with two brilliant saves.

In the first semi-final, home team’s penalty corner expert Imran Warsi scored twice to take his tally to 11 goals but Pakistan had to wait until the 61st minute to take a decisive two goals lead as Malaysia threatened to come on level terms with some spirited play.