Despite playing second fiddle in the first half of the crucial Super 4s last engagement, India came alive in the third and fourth quarters to pump in four goals without answer from arch rivals Pakistan to majestically taking its appointed place in the Asia Cup final.

Its India’s eighth entry into the Asia’s premier and prestigious event and the SEVENTH continuous win over arch rival Pakistan. India were runners up last time in Kuala Lumpur.

Satbir Singh (39th min), Lalit Upadhyay (52), Gurjant Singh (57) and Hamanpreet Singh (51) scored a goal apiece to notch up top spot in the Super 4s table.

Supported by excellent goalie in Amjad Ali, Pakistan resisted slow paced India in the first 35 minutes or so but lost their structure and plot thereafter on a heavy turf. Indians fitness came into play that led to a flattering scoreboard for them.

Winner of the rain deferred match between Malaysia and Korea will take on inform India in the TENTH Asia Cup final.

Satbir Singh, not making much of mark in Dhaka, did everything on his own to get India the elusive goal in the 39th minute. Getting a freehit from his captain Manpreet Singh, he took the ball into circle from right side of net, and nobody to tackle, moved up to pass a short pass to waiting Gurjant Singh, but alert Pakistan golie Amjad Ali dived to block but the ball trickled into the cage much to the relief Indian camp.

Thereafter Lalit Upadhyay and Varun Kumar missed a sitter each, due to poor traping

India got two successive penalty corners in the early fourth quarter, but subtitute goalie Amjad Ali was outstanding. Chinglensana Singh could not stop the pushed ball off the fifth PC, but shot back for attack, both SV Sunil and Sumit had a shot at goal, but Amjad Ali, who was standing with hawkish eye, cleared. He was man possessed today.

Thereafter, the Pakistanis lost steam, allowing India all they wanted: Space. India attacked from both flanks, getting penalty corners in succession. Harmanpreet Singh, who missed first four and then one by Varun Kumar, did not disappoint this time. His flick found the right middle part of the net.

He closed his mouth with his right hand on astonishment, a rare kind of celebration from the up and coming stat.

Pakistan in fact invited trouble, which led to this goal, as this penalty corner was a gift to India, as its forward turned defender Md. Atiq would trip speedying midfielder Sumit near the top of circle, which led to him suspended for five minutes besides conceding this penalty corner. India actually scored twice when it had Pakistan a man less.

SV Sunil thereafter took the initiative. He set up next two goals. He ran fast with ball to the right backline

With winner of the match going into the Asia Cup final, both team exercised caution in the crucial match in the early part of the encounter. Its sixth match for both teams, and 55th in the Asia Cup history.

First Quarter belonged to Pakistan who dominated field proceeding. Their work upfront got them three penalty corners, one in a melee of legs in the rival circle, other when Sumit carried inside when receiving a cleared ball and then good attack got them the third. Pakistan however could not break the Rock of Gibraltor in Akash Tikte. Twice he dived to his right to ward of two PC shots while Abu Baker flicked high to wast the team’s third penalty corner.

Field umpire whistled for a penalty corner within two minutes of game but it did not survive Pakistan referral.

India got its lone penalty corner in the fag end of first quarter. Its Ramandeep Singh who could place the ball on the right foot of Pak captain Md. Irfan Sr. The process however did not cover with any glory for India. After perfect stop, Harmanpreet Singh dragged the ball a little distance before losing the plot. Ball got below his stick, the flick was not there. Perhaps the ground is heavy due to earlier rain which led to game postponed to little more than one and half hour.

India came close to strike three minutes before half time. A disputed penalty corer was taken by Harmanpreet Singh. His high, powerful flick jut hit the right top T before bouncing out of play.

A little before the botched up PC, Ramandeep Singh had a chance to gain a goal, but his strong reverse was well anticipated by Pak goalie who took on his pads and then Irfan Sr cleared the rebound. Pak had another chance to go up when it got a penalty corner in the second half, but Chikte would not budge. Indian defender Surender Kumar, still with protective face mask on, timely put his stick on the rebound which was negotiated by a forward on the top of D.

The sides changed sides without any goal on the board, which definitely brought pressure on India to deliver. Which the fitter and tactically superior India did in style.

Captain Manpreet Singh, who sent most of defence spliting passes and controlled the pace of the match, was fittingly declared ‘Hero Man of the Match’.