Outplaying Pakistan India enters Dhaka Sub-Junior Asia Cup final.

Indian colts displayed a mature and patient hockey much against solo running Pakistan to post a marvelous 3-1 win in the semifinal to lock horns against hosts Bangladesh in the Sub-Junior Asia Cup final tomorrow.
India started the Dhaka campaign losing to Bangladesh and will now have a chance to prove the opening loss was storm in the Cup.

Having won all three matches, Pakistan was expected to put up a good show, but typical of its side practicing age-old Asian style devoid of athleticism, bucked before experienced Indians geometric hockey, where ball possession, patience, least errors were prominent.

The match started with Indians missing out twice from right flank, first by Dilpreet Singh and then by otherwise nippy Rabhichandra Singh., And then captain Sanjeeb Xess conceding an easy penalty corner in the sixth minute.

Amjad Ali was to take the flick, but the pushed ball was not stopped properly leaving first charger Hardik Singh to clear on the top of the circle.

Moments earlier, a high ball almost landed in the Indian cage, but luckily India survived.

Shivam Anand tapped in a return pass from Dilpreet and Umar to title the even going proceedings into India’s favour (1-0).
Indian defence was excellent today, committing almost no errors.
Captain Xess and ultimate man of the match Kunwar Dilraj Singh did not allow Pakistan forwards any elbow room.

in the twentieth minute, India had a chance to go up when Kishore Arya sent a minus from right flank, but Dilpreet, momentarily out of focus, just failed to stop against open goal mouth.

Shortly, Kishore was served on platter but he fumbled with his shot.

On a counter India got its first penalty corner, but Xess’ drag was predictable to rival goalie Waqar.
A minute later in the 24th minutes, Pakistan got two penalty corners, one was saved on goal-line by hardworking Kunwar Dilraj.

India also did not show any prowess with penalty corners, the second one that came in the 28th minutes went abegging as Dharminder could not stop the Sunny pushed ball properly.

In the last minutes of first half, India dominated thoroughly with better ball possession and ball sense, parting and distributing than the Pakistan colts who held on to the ball, and just content in solo runs.

Dilpreet Singh, who has a tendency to hold on to the ball inside D thankfully earned a penaltyconer in the 30th minute, Xess took the drag, hit the leg of charger and got another one. Out of which Xess effected a low drag that sounded the boards to the right of bemused Waqar (2-0) but before that it was turned in by DIlpreet Singh.

The sides were changed with this Indian lead.

After lemon too India kept on attacking and also got a stroke, but Xess pushed wide to the right. Survived Pakistan had its moments but in the midfield Saurabh Anana, Umar and Rabhichandra Sigh would not given in.
Sonepat lad Abhisek, whenever pressed into play, showed enormous game sense in containing Pak forwards and also in pepping attack from left flank.

Experienced Umar was error prone today, and had missed two sitters in the second half.

Later Dharminder Singh earned another PC for India, out of which Xess again aimed lower side of right flank and was bang on target (3-0).

With good use of overheads from Amjad Ali and Rizwan Ali, Pakistan took initiative, but was tendative in the circle, Indian defenders easily recouped to thwart many Pak attempts. Indian goalie Pankaj was also in his elements.

Solo running Adeel Latif got an yellow card on dashing Hardik Singh in the 50 the minute, shortly after Umar getting a green for stick check.

Indian were panicky in the last ten minutes or so, committing fouls and getting green cards, but Pak forwards missed to mind read.

They too harried their moves and shots.
Seven minutes before the hooter, Pakistan converted its last penalty corner. Amjad Ali ultimately beating Pankaj in the cage.