London, June 23: India defeated Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating FIH Pro League match here on Tuesday, extending their decade-long unbeaten streak against the arch-rivals in international hockey.
The victory lifted India to seventh in the standings and came in the first meeting between the two sides since the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in China.
Pakistan earned the first breakthrough in the eighth minute when Nadeem capitalised on a penalty corner routine to make it 1-0.
In the final minute of the first quarter, India won three consecutive penalty corners, but Pakistan goalkeeper Ali Raza made a fine save to deny India skipper Harmanpreet Singh.
In the 22nd minute, Dilpreet Singh’s powerful shot was padded away by Raza, but Abhishek quickly pounced on the rebound to make it 1-1.
Three minutes later, India won another penalty corner and Nilakanta Sharma reacted sharply to the rebound and smashed the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs to put India ahead 2-1.
India then extended their lead in the 40th minute when Abhishek set up Sukhjeet inside the circle, who produced a handsome finish to make it 3-1.
The final quarter was filled with late drama as Pakistan pushed hard to reduce the deficit.
After the Indian defence blocked back-to-back Pakistan penalty corners in the 51st minute, India launched a swift counter-attack to earn a penalty corner of their own in the 52nd minute. In a clever routine, Harmanpreet acted as a decoy, allowing Rajinder to fire the ball past substitute goalkeeper Waqar to make it 4-1.
Pakistan fought back immediately as captain Mahmood scored from a penalty corner flick through the legs of Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera to make it 4-2.
With just 14 seconds left on the clock, Pakistan’s Shakeel scored on a penalty corner rebound to make it 4-3, but India held their nerves in the final seconds to secure the hard-fought three points. (PTI)
