Teams tied 3-3 after extra timePakistan 8 ..India 7Rawalpindi, Feb 22: The strain of a long, punishing tour, a slippery turf that has seen its best years and series that has already been decided some days ago. The combination of all these was hardly promising and yet the packed Army Stadium here witnessed a scintillating display of Asian style hockey, today.India, though missing the services of schemer and right-in Baljit Singh Saini, were in control and seemed to be cruising to their second consecutive victory when a defensive lapse brought the match and spectators alive. After the teams were locked 3-3 at the end of regulation play, and 15 minutes of extra time, Pakistan crushed Indian hopes with a 8-7 margin in sudden death. Pakistan lead 6-2 in the series with one match to go.But for the last five minutes, and extra time, when Pakistan traded attackswith counters, India held sway in the midfield. Even a poorly functioning left flank failed to deter the Indians who weredetermined to claim another consolation win before the Lahore clash.With the Indians leading 2-1, and Pakistan struggling to build an attack, it seemed all over when the Pakistanis were allowed back into the game. Mohammed Sarwar seized a stray ball inside Indian territory and weaved his way from the right past four Indians on the way.Dilip Tirkey, who otherwise had a good game, should have foiled Sarwar at the first instance. The attack resulted in a penalty corner - Pakistan's first in 66 minutes of play - and Suhail Abbas brought the crowd to its feet with a characteristic sizzler.From then on, the match swung like a pendulum. Pakistan surged ahead when Muhammed Nadeem moved up from the right and sent a pass to Sarwar inside the circle. Sarwar, who yet again led the Pakistan attack, passed on to Mohammed Khalid, who pushed to the right of goalkeeper Poonacha in a jiffy.However, just when it seemed the Indian plans had been undone, they struck with a minute to go for the hooter. It was abrilliant effort by Gagan Ajit Singh, who trapped a pass from Mohammed Riaz, and sent in a crashing hit past Ahmed Alam, even as he fell to his right.With the golden goal rule coming into effect, the teams strained that extra bit to find the winner. When Pakistan earned their second penalty corner in the sixth minute of extra time, the crowd cheered Abbas to provide the fireworks again. But it was Rajesh Chauhan who charged out to seize the ball from Abbas and initiated a counter that could have marked the end. But for the unlucky Indians, Kamal Horo, who had scored the first goal, missed the easiest of chances with Alam out of picture. Gagan Ajit Singh, standing next to Horo, could only throw his stick in disgust.In the tie-breaker, Mohammed Saqlain was denied by a diving Poonacha with the Indians leadng 3-2, but Chauhan muffed his shy, managing a weak push that bounced off Alam's stick. In sudden death, Thirumalavan pushed staight into Alam's pads to end the contest.Earlier, India's first goal camewhen Baljit Singh Dhillon converted the first penalty corner. With Riaz falling back to bolster the defence, it was Dhillon and Rajesh Chauhan who did most of the hard work upfront. Kamal Horo also played a composed game, but spoilt it all with his miss in extra-time.Pakistan's equaliser came in the second session, when an unmarked captain Atif Bashir shot past Poonacha even as Tirkey and Aldrin looked on helplessly.The Indians fought hard to wrest the lead again mid-way through the second session. Horo received a pass from Dhillon and moved inside the Pakistan circle, but was stick-checked by Mubashir Mukhtar. Umpire Philip Schelekens awarded a stroke, and Dhillon did the needful.Then came the dramatic equaliser by Abbas. The amazing fightback by Pakistan, and the involvment of an appreciative crowd made today's encounter the most exciting one of the series so far.
