India holds Pakistan

India came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Pakistan, but missed the bus for the final of the tri-nation hockey tournament, here on Tuesday.

Pakistan set up the title clash against Australia on the virtue of a better goal difference.

India, which needed an outright win to qualify for the final, will play for the bronze against Australia ‘A’. Pakistan had a goal difference of -6 compared to Indian’s -8 to make the final.

EQUALISER

After conceding an early goal to Pakistan, India’s young sensation Yuvraj Walmiki scored the equaliser in the 26th minute. India created enough moves to move the scoreboard further, but its forwards were found wanting in the circle.

Pakistan went ahead in the second minute of the game after the Indian defence conceded an easy penalty corner. Veteran Sohail Abbas showed his class, sending his hard push to the right of Indian goalkeeper-captain Bharat Chhetri.

India got fair chances of equalising, but Sandeep Singh could not convert. He took India’s first two penalty corners in the seventh and eighth minute respectivelt, only to see Imran Shah rise to the occasion.

Imran first palmed away the high flick from Sandeep, and covered the angle at which Vikram aimed his rebound shot. India got four more penalty corners, but Sandeep was not in his element. For Pakistan, the defence manned by Imran Mohammad and Irfan Mohammad faced many surges from the Indian forwards in the last five minutes.

Indian chief coach Michael Nobbs was aghast at the Indian forwards for failing to score.

Bowing to the persistent demand of India, the organisers posted two neutral umpires, Girme Murrya of Australia and Chan Cheng of China.