Pakistan Snatches Title of Asian Hockey from India scoring 5 against 4

Final of second Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament came with A PLEASING END FOR Pakistani fans who witnessed a surprised win for their homeland and that too against their arch rival India who destroyed their self respect in pool match. It was a tough fight between both hockey giants of Asia but in the end experience helped Pakistan snatch the title.

By virtue of this win, Pakistan have avenged upon their loss at the hands of India in the title clash of the inaugural edition of the event last year in Ordos, China. Muhammad Waqas (7th minute, 57th) and Mohammad Imran (48th, 64th) scored a brace each for Pakistan while Shafqat Rasool (42nd) sounded the board once.For India S V Sunil (9th), vice-captain V R Raguunath (21st), Gurvinder Singh Chandi (55th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (59th) scored a goal each.

The match started on a fast paced note with both the teams going for attack from the onset. However, it was Pakistan who took the lead when Waqas deflected home from their first penalty corner in the seventh minute after Raghunuath blocked Mohammad Rizwan Sr inside the circle. But the lead was short lived as Sunil equalised through a field effort, his fourth goal in the tournament, two minutes later.

Raghunath rose to the occasion and beautifully converted a penalty corner in the 21st minute to see India go into the breather with a 2-1 lead. But Pakistan came out all guns blazing in the second period and restored parity in the 42nd minute when Rasool scored from a field effort.

Pegged by the goal, Pakistan went all out attacking and their efforts bore fruit when Irfan's high drag-flick from a penalty corner crashed into the Indian goal past custodian PR Sreejesh to give the neighbors a 3-2 lead. The match witnessed a see-saw battle between the two sub-continental giants as Chandi brought India back into the match in the 55th minute, finding himself at the right place at the right time to restore parity.
But two minutes later Waqas restored Pakistan's lead with his second goal of the match before Rupinder equalized for India.

However, the joy was short lived for the Indians as five minutes later Irfan was once again at the thick of things, converting another short corner to score the winner for Pakistan. Thereafter, the Indians pressed hard for the equalizer but it was not be as Pakistan defended stubbornly to deny Michael Nobbs' boys any inroads.