2009: India-Pak final on Sunday, rehearsal tomorro

India-Pakistan final on Sunday, rehearsal tomorrow

India ensured the final’s spot with second straight win in the Genting 4-Nation Junior Cup at Johar Bahru. India steam rolled Singapore 12-0 in the first match on Thursday.

This second win enabled India to reach the final against Pakistan on Sunday. Pakistan today defeated Malaysia 3-1, the same score of India against the hosts.

However, the formalities are yet to be completed, as in their last pool match India will clash with Pakistan, a dress rehearsal of sort.

Mandeep Antil scored five goals, followed by three-goal each by Lalit Upadhyaya and Danish Mujtaba.

Lucknow Sports Hostel’s Md. Amir scored a goal.

Singapore match was expected to be easy, and it turned out to be easier. Yesterday, Pakistan could scored only 8 goals, while India easily amassed four goals more thantheir rival to top the pool table.

However, India’s penalty corner execution continues to be cause of concern, as not many of them were made use of today also.

Diwakra Ram took the first penalty corner, only to see it hit the top bar and bounce off the circle area. Subsequently, Innocent Kullu also tried his hand in taking penalty corners. Except a rebound connectin by Mandeep Antil in the 24th minutes, all other Indian goals were from field efforts.

Mandeep in fact posted first hattrick of his career scoring in the 39th 40 and 42nd minutes.

India rested winger Jay Karan and Sunil Yadav while reserve goalkeeper Santosh Kumar got his chance to enter the ground from the 25th minute onwards.

Indian scorers: Mandeep Antil (13, 24, 39, 40 and 42nd minutes), Danish Majtaba (10, 49, 59 minutes, Lalit (34, 43, 68th minutes), Md. Amir (36th Minutes).

In the second match of the day, Malaysia seemed to make a match of it against Pakistan, but lost steam regularly allowing their rivals to dictate the terms.

Pakistan scored through its third penalty corner by Atique Md, which was followed by a reverse rebound of Toufeeq Md. Malaysia converted its only Penalty corner with the immaculate forward Faizal Sarris in the 40th min. Bilal Mohsin settled the issue in favour of Pakistan with gem of a gola in the 58th minutes.