Johor Bahru (Malaysia), Nov 4: The Indian junior men’s hockey team defeated Pakistan (6-5) in a shootout after the game ended in a 3-3 after regulation time during the hard-fought 3rd/4th place match on Saturday to clinch the Bronze medal at the 11th Sultan of Johor Cup.
The action-packed encounter saw Arun Sahani (11’), Poovanna CB (42’), and skipper Uttam Singh (52’) score for India while Sufyan Khan (33’), Abdul Qayyum (50’), and Pakistan skipper Shahid Hannan (57’) scored for Pakistan to end regulation time at 3-3.
The penalty shootouts went all the way to sudden death as India’s goalkeeper Mohith HS denied Pakistan captain to clinch Bronze with a nervy 6-5 shootout win.
The game started with both teams cautiously probing for chances. Pakistan’s goalkeeper Ali Raza was called into action halfway through the first quarter, as Gurjot Singh stayed alert in the circle and unleashed a reverse shot that sailed just wide of the post.
As India looked to press for the opening goal it was Sahani who stepped up to deflect Rohit’s searching pass into goal. Pakistan was under pressure towards the end of the quarter with India creating a couple of chances and forcing Raza to save.
India kept the Pakistan defence on their toes with the occasional counterattack. However, neither team managed to change the scoreline in their favour heading into the second half.
Pakistan’s hard work bore fruit in the second half with Sufyan slotting the ball into Mohith’s net from a penalty corner.
A period of Pakistani dominance followed but the Indian defence remained resilient. With three minutes left in the quarter, Poovanna flicked the ball into goal after a missed penalty corner to restore India’s lead.
In the last quarter, Pakistan seemed determined to equalise again, pinning India back in their own circle. As the pressure continued to mount it was Qayyum who breached India’s goal to bring the teams back on level terms. But India flipped the switch, taking the game to Pakistan and it wasn’t too long before skipper Uttam scored from a chaotic penalty corner, to make it 3-2.
Pakistan threw in the kitchen sink in their search for an equaliser, creating numerous penalty corners and it was Pakistan skipper Hannan who made 3-3 with his goal at the end of the regulation time, taking the game to penalty shootouts.
Pakistan’s Arshad Liaqat, Hannan Shahid, Abdul Rehman, and Ahtisham Aslam found the back of the net in the penalty shootout while Vishnukant Singh, Rajinder Singh, Angad Bir Singh, and Uttam answered back with goals of their own to take it sudden death.
Vishnukant and Liaqat converted their respective chances in sudden death, although, after Angad converted his chance India’s keeper, Mohith shadowed Hannan perfectly to tackle him and sealed the glorious victory for the Indian team. (IANS)
