New Delhi: Hosts India drew curtains to their disastrous campaign at the Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup by finishing a disappointing 10th after losing to arch-rivals Pakistan in a classification match at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, here on Saturday.
Pakistan finished ninth after beating India 4-2 in the one-on-one penalty shoot-out after the two teams were locked at 1-1 after regulation time.
Pakistan stunned the large home spectators in the seventh minute with a field goal from Rizwan Ali before Gurjinder Singh drew parity for India just four minutes from the hooter by converting the home team’s second penalty corner, giving hope to the home team.
But it was not to be India’s day as they scored just twice in the shootout against Pakistan’s four conversions.
Gurjinder and Talwinder Singh were on target from the first two one-on-one opportunities in the shoot, while Imran Khan and Satbir Singh missed.
Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Tousiq, Muhammad Umar Bhutta and Muhammad Dilber scored for Pakistan, while Muhammad Rizwan Jr was the only miss.
Though India dominated the lion’s share of possession in the first half, the hosts were far from impressive.
their trapping was horrendous and mostly played in their own cirle.
Pakistan, on the other hand, looked more co-ordinated and threatening in their forays. The Pakistanis used both the flanks to perfection to build their attacks.
Man-to-man marking was the hallmark of Pakistan’s defence as they did not give any space to the Indians