India Vs Pakistan Highlights, Asian Champions Trophy Hockey: Harmanpreet scores twice, India win 2-1 in entertaining contest

EIGHT:: Number of years since India last lost to Pakistan. After Saturday’s game, India have been unbeaten to their arch-rivals in 17 matches. The last time they lost to Pakistan was in February 2016 at the South Asian Games.

He has been around for far too long to call this an "arrival", but Krishan Bahadur Pathak's performance today is a fine statement in India's first tournament of post-PR Sreejesh era.

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A brilliant double save to preserve India's lead ?#SonySportsNetwork #INDvsPAK #ACT2024 #HockeyIndia #KrishanBahadurPathak | @TheHockeyIndia @asia_hockey @FIH_Hockey pic.twitter.com/NsmbABuljP

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 14, 2024

To a casual hockey watcher, Saturday’s Asian Champions Trophy group-stage finale between India and Pakistan would have seemed like a battle of equals.

And therein lies the story. For Pakistan, in an abysmal state of despair after missing the last three Olympics, the 1-2 loss would feel like a moral victory. For India, flying high after a bronze at the last two Games, a slight indictment before the tournament’s business end.

“We are not happy,” was midfielder Nilakanta Sharma’s assessment of India's below-par performance during the post-match interview.

His teammates were baited by Pakistan, who drew them into individual battles and dragged them to their level, knowing it was the only way to take home a point, if not all three. The Indians fell for it. Craig Fulton would not have liked how his team lost control but, unwittingly, it meant India and Pakistan rolled back the years.

All game plans were shunned. There were breathtaking forward runs with the players convinced they possessed superpowers to dribble past the entire opposition. The defences were porous, making the match more fun. There was a generous sprinkling of drama – rash tackles, heated exchanges and both teams ending with one player less.

Read more by Mihir Vasavda in the match report here.

SEMIFINALS LINEUP:

China beat Japan 2-0 and take their spot in the final four. And they even pip Korea (looks like the number of wins is the first tiebreaker)

PAKISTAN vs CHINA: 1.00 pm IST 

INDIA vs KOREA: 3.30 pm IST 

India will play the Semi-Final 2 of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2024 on Monday, 16th September at 15:30 IST. Their opponents will be decided after the last league stage match of the tournament. (Either Malaysia or China).

China vs Japan to come today, and that will decide the final four lineup. For now, India and Pakistan are assured to be in the top 2, Korea will also qualify.

Nilakanta Sharma: They give us a wonderful fight. We won the match but we are not happy, we have a few new players so we are missing some passes. I learnt a lot from Paris experience (he was a reserve), just to protect the ball and not losing it. 

Player of the Match in a India vs Pakistan tie, is India's No 18: Nilakanta Sharma 

FULL TIME STATS:

#Hockey #AsianChampionsTrophy

FULL TIME: ??2-1??

Harmanpreet Singh's two goals the difference as India come back from being a goal down to prevail against Pakistan to finish the group stage with 5 wins out of 5.#INDvPAK recap ??https://t.co/DMVT7UuEfM pic.twitter.com/trhqCm7gU0

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) September 14, 2024

INDIA WIN FIVE IN FIVE: India prevail 2-1 against Pakistan in possibly the most closely contested (when both teams are full strength) in recent memory. Harmanpreet Singh's two goals the difference after Pakistan took the lead early. 

Pakistan with a chance to counter but there is a slip in midfield. And India have possession. They should see this out now. 

Is Harman on the pitch? He is indeed. Amit Rohidas is the other option. 

Harmanpreet on the second battery with a shot on goal, that is saved and as is the rebound. 

Into the last minute. Looks like no hat-trik for Harman today. 

Into the last 2 minutes. Both teams will have 10 players to finish this match (apart from maybe 10-12 seconds with 11 for Pakistan). Will Pakistan hit back now? 

Sukhjeet wins a PC for India with 94 seconds to go. Great work by Nilakanta in the build-up. 

Already down one player for their rotations due to Abu's nasty injury and now down to 10 players. This has been a tough phase for Pakistan.

But as we say that Manpreet gets a 5-minute yellow card and India too will finish the match with 10 men. That was a little lax from the former India captain as he was caught in possession and then an apparent transgression in defence as Pakistan countered. 

CHANCE INDIA! Raheel with a fine pass to find Abhishek in space but Pakistan goalkeeper Muneeb does superbly to rush out first but stay on his feet and eventually thwart Abhishek. 

#Hockey #AsianChampionsTrophy #INDvPAK

It's been the closest India-Pakistan match in a while... and with that, there comes some drama too!https://t.co/MhVEwXcnKo pic.twitter.com/yEWAkFLcUq

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) September 14, 2024

DRAMA: Rana Waheed Ashraf gets a 10-minute Yellow Card with 10 minutes left in the match! 

That's another case of indiscipline from a Pakistan player in terms of receiving a card. India are NOT happy with a tackle from Rana on Jugraj and there is some argy-bargy going on after the play. The umpire refers it to the video referee and it is deemed bad enough for a 10-min yellow. 

India go to Jugraj.. not once but twice! Surprise calls from India and good shots too. The first is rushed well and the second one with a stunning block on the post by Hammadudin. 

India then have another chance, and it is HARMANPREET SINGH WITH A FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT! But the reverse hit is blocked. That would have been some way to get to No 200 officially. 

Pakistan then charge on the counter and looked like Sumit put in a last-ditch tackle. 

Harmanpreet Singh is on the pitch and he is on a hat-trick. 

Siddharth Pandey on air reckons this is the best bit of passing play from India in this match so far in terms of tempo. Pakistan are finding it a bit hard to cope at the moment. 

India are given a PC after a little bit of 3D skill from Abhishek... and Pakistan lose their referral. 

India start the final quarter with a circle entry driven by Sukhjeet but Abhishek's reverse hit is eventually too high. Pakistan are now back to their full strength as Sufyan's suspension ends. 

And that's a goal-less quarter of hockey, thanks largely to Krishan Pathak's saves. Pakistan were in the groove for a good chunk of that quarter but the Indian goalkeeper has been solid. 

His work for the day is probably done as Suraj will return to goal. 

They might be down to 10 but Pakistan do have a PC late in Q3. Silly from Raheel to push the ball away after the whistle went. Pakistan don't have Abu or Sufyan on the pitch. It's a very flimsy battery at the top of the circle. 

They do win a retake... then they go for a variation, and it is completely mishit. 

He has been around for far too long to call this an "arrival", but Krishan Bahadur Pathak's performance today is a fine statement in India's first tournament of post-PR Sreejesh era. Mihir Vasavda says that save he made off a deflection is something they work on regularly. 

A quick video referral to check serious misconduct. But that's not the case for video referee. However it is a potentially costly 5-minute suspension for Sufyan for a yellow card. 

ANOTHER PATHAK SAVE! Pakistan putting India under relentless pressure here. They win another PC. This time the shot on goal takes slight deflection off the first rusher, and these are usually difficult to save, and Pathak puts his right foot out. 

DOUBLE-SAVE! Krishan Pathak! Brilliant under pressure from India's No 12. First he puts out a left hand out, and from the rebound he puts his body in line. 

Pakistan have ANOTHER PC. Amir Ali with a bad tackle this time. This is a good spell for Pakistan. 

Down the other side, Pakistan have a PC! Harmanpreet wanted to refer that it seemed but chooses against it. 

Jarmanpreet with a good block! Pakistan go for a hit and not a drag flick, the shot is on target and Pathak is beaten in goal... but Jarmanpreet does his job at the post with a good stick block. 

PC for India! India steal the ball back (looked like Amir Ali down the left flank) and the ball falls to Araijeet who dribbles through on goal and Pakistan defender (Sufyan) holds his ground. It's a clash of bodies and a PC goes to India. 

But this time, Harmanpreet Singh couldn't go past the first rusher. The same angle from Harman but this time the rising is much better. 

This is FultonBall, so to speak. India are holding the ball well, and recycling possession flank to flank. Not passive possession but energetic side-to-side passing to try and stretch the Pakistan defence. Pressure on the Pakistani low block at the moment. 

Fairly even in the early exchanges of the second half. India not committing to a very high press here, no reason either. Commentator Siddharth Pandey reckons that it is only Sukhjeet on pressing duties at the moment, rest of it is man-to-man marking. 

Half time stats. India are indeed the more dominant side so far, but it could have easily been 2-2 if Jarmanpreet's error at the end of the half was punished.

And breathe.

Harmanpreet Singh's two goals puts India in the lead at half time, and that nasty Abu Mahmood injury put Pakistan in a shell briefly. But other than that, it's been a fairly even contest so far. 2-1 India. India have been losing possession much too frequently and that Jarmanpreet error could have easily been punished. Neither team has been perfect but that, as is often the case, is a recipe for an entertaining contest. 

CHANCE MISSED! Jarmanpreet Singh misses the aerial ball in defence and Pakistan have a big chance to hit back before half time. But the ball into the circle is not deflected in by Nadeem. Big mistake that by Jarman and not for the first time. 

India have also been guilty of turning over possession much more than Fulton would like. They are trying a few aerials in this phase, but the accuracy that we see from them is missing today. 

The injury, apart from being a shock to the Pakistan team in the immediacy of it all, will also affect Pakistan's rotation plans. As Mihir already mentioned, fitness will be a big test. But after retreating into a low block, Pakistan finally have some decent possession in Q2 after a while. 

That is a bad, bad injury for Abu Mahmood. Araijeet was marking the Pakistan No 27 but there was no contact there, Mahmood was trying to shield the ball and change direction and the right knee just buckled badly.

#Hockey #AsianChampionsTrophy #INDvPAK

Oh dear, that is a nasty injury. Pakistan's Abu Mahmood is being stretchered off after his right knee just caved in when he was attempting to change direction. Non contact injury but that is a long term one. https://t.co/MhVEwXcnKo pic.twitter.com/3EHS7mvyiF

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) September 14, 2024

HARMAN HAS HIS SECOND: Two chances, two goals. Harmanpreet Singh is going at 100% conversion rate today from penalty corners! Another one from the first battery, the angle to goalkeeper's left once more. And back of the net once more. 

India win another PC early in Q2, Uttam Singh with a nice turn after good work at the edge of the circle. 

Harman is on the pitch for this once again. Jugraj also. 

Brilliant quarter. Fun hockey match, so far. It was quite end-to-end at the end of the first 15 minutes.

Here's Mihir Vasavda's take on Q1 as Q2 gets underway. 

India need to play their game. Pakistan have succeeded in getting India to play the way they want -- giving up structure, end-to-end, more individual runs. It's barely a surprise that Pakistan still produces gifted, skilful players so 1 v 1 against them will make it an equal contest. India have to resort to what they have been doing so well so far: keep the structure, build up with patience and control possession. Craig Fulton won't be happy with the first quarter and India must play their game.

INDIA EQUALISE: Harmanpreet Singh, who else. First PC, sheer power, perfect inside-out angle on the drag flick. And Harmanpreet makes it 1-1 with his first attempt of the day. 

What a superb start by Pakistan! Out-running India and even out-thinking them. India have lacked intensity and are slow to react each time. Pakistan, credit to them, have made the most of it and all the early good moves have come from them. The goal is a just reward. But here's a catch: it'll take something special for Pakistan to continue playing with the same speed for full 60 minutes. Fitness is what cost them a place in the Paris Olympics, after all. True test for then.

Mihir Vasavda 

For the match as a contest, an early Pakistan goal is perfect setup. India have to react now and Pakistan celebrated that goal with plenty of gusto. 

WHAT A START: That is a sensational run from Hannan Shahid from the right, cutting in to the center and finding Nadeem Ahmad in plenty of space. That is brilliant hockey, and Pakistan turned on the style, playing out from defence. 

BIG MISS! Ajaz with a superb cross into the danger area from the right flank, and the ball goes all the way across to the far post and there is no touch from a Pakistan player. The man on the far post should have been more alert. 

For young Gurjot Singh, it is a big occasion today. The teenager, one of the fresh faces that Fulton has brought in post Paris, has made his senior debut in Moqi this week and today he is in the starting XI against Pakistan. A good decision by Fulton to give Gurjot the experience of such a big occasion. 

As we say that, a brilliant dribble by Moin into the circle and he creates an opening... but the passing into the circle after opening up his body is not to a teammate. 

A couple of circle entries already for India in the first couple of minutes. India are playing in their white kit while Pakistan in their more traditional green. 

India start on the front foot, and they have been starting matches well this past week, looking for early goals. 

Always a special occasion before a hockey match, especially so before India vs Pakistan. 

We are all set at the picturesque Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China

The last time we had a India-Pakistan clash in men's hockey, it was a 10-2 win for India at the Asian Games (that too was in China). Get the feeling it could be a little closer today. Let's see.

IND coach Craig Fulton: It's always to add to the legacy of this rivalry. It's a privilege to coach in these matches. But this one is slightly different because it is being played neither in India or Pakistan. We have a game plan and we will try to execute that. 

PAK coach Tahir Zaman: We are expecting a better game today, it is always a game of nerves. We will focus on our game and create some difficulties to India for their movements. 

(Quotes are not verbatim) 

While India, led by ace dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh, will go into the match as table toppers, Ammad Butt-led Pakistan will take on India as an unbeaten side placed no.2 in the points table. Defending Champions India have played the tournament as true favourites, clinching each match with confidence and charisma. They have beaten hosts China 3-0 in their first match, beat Japan 5-1 in their second, trounced Malaysia 8-1 in their third match and clinched a 3-1 win against Korea in their previous match. India was the first team in the tournament to book a place in the semifinal and they have thoroughly enthralled the hockey-loving spectators in Hulunbuir in their pursuit. Pakistan, on the other hand, have been resilient in this campaign. Playing under the watchful guidance of hockey legend Tahir Zaman, they have improved by every passing game. They drew 2-2 against Malaysia and Korea, beat Japan 2-1 and China 5-1 to climb up to the second spot in the points table.

Via Hockey India

It might not quite be as heated a rivalry as it used to be, but historically, it's been spicy. 

Read more here.

India might not have the top spot in the goalscorers' chart but that is because they have shared the load around quite well. Araijeet, Sukheet and Raj Kumar Pal have especially been in good touch.

It may or may not be his 200th goal for India in senior international hockey, but it was another fine strike from Harmanpreet Singh. He is one of FIVE India players with 3 goals in the tournament so far.  

Sarpanch scores ?@13harmanpreet capitalises on the penalty corner, doubling #TeamIndia’s lead ? #SonySportsNetwork #ACT2024 #HockeyIndia | @thehockeyindia pic.twitter.com/1yKVSsmIeH

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 12, 2024