India go down fighting to Pak

Sohail Abbas's goal ten minutes from the final whistle gave defending champions Pakistan a 4-3 victory over India in a thrilling match in a Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament, at the National hockey stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, on Sunday.

In earlier matches, South Korea beat Malaysia 4-1 while England and Australia dew 1-1.

Asian artistry was at its best as India and Pakistan played swift and skillful hockey. It was a key clash for both teams, as both had lost a match and drawn one in the tournament and needed a win to stay in the race for honours. Pakistan had lost to Australia in the opening match and drew to South Korea, while India were held by Malaysia and lost to Germany.

As both teams went into all-out attack mode straight from the start, it was evident that the clash between Asia's hockey giants would be a fast-paced affair. It was Pakistan who had the first shy at goal within five minutes, but India goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan displayed excellent reflexes as he thwarted Irfan twice.

India attacked through Mukesh Kumar, Sabu Varkey and Tejbir Singh and did manage to put the ball into the cage in the 12th minute, but the goal was disallowed as the last-named, who found the net with a reverse hit, was pulled up for obstruction.

Six minutes later, Pakistan went ahead. The goal was a fine piece of opportunism from Kashif Jawwad. Speedy forward Mohammad Nadeem dribbled in well and essayed a crisp shot, which Chauhan saved. Jawad was quick to punce on the rebound and despatch home.

A lapse by Chauhan in the 27th minute saw India concede their second goal. The young keeper's inexperience told as he allowed a harmless shot by Muhammad Shabbir to roll between his legs and into goal.

Two goals down India made a feverish search for a goal and struck a minute later from their first penalty-corner. Daljit Singh Dhillon tapped home after goalkeeper Ahmed Alam had padded Dilip Tirkey's shot.

India's perseverance paid off as they leveled scores three minutes from the breather through Deepak Thakur, who cut past a couple of defenders after receiving a pass from Jugraj Singh and beat a diving goalkeeper Alam.

Pakistan regained the lead a minute after resumption in the second half, with Jawwad got his second goal, deflecting home a Nadeem pass.

With Pakistan attempting to slow down the pace, the Indian forwards applied pressure on the Pakistan goal and forced their third penalty-corner in the 54nd minute after Deepak Thakur was obstructed in his stride inside the circle. Young Jugraj Singh drove hard and true to make it 3-3.

But Sohail Abbas's drag flick from a penalty-corner ten minutes from the final whistle sealed India's fate. The Indians pressed hard thereafter and almost scored following their fourth penalty-corner but Mohammad Usman came up with a goalline save from Deepak Thakur's effort after goalkeeper Alam was beaten by Tirkey's shot from the top of the circle.

This was Pakistan's first victory over India in a long time. India went into the match with history of the Azlan Shah tournament on their side, having won two of their three meetings -- first in 1983, with the match ending 1-1 and then in the 1988 and 1991 editions, India emerging victorious by a solitary goal. Besides, India had also beaten Pakistan in the Prime Minister's Gold Cup final in Dhaka in March this year via a penalty shoot-out.

South Korea proved too good for Malaysia and picked their seventh point after two wins and a draw. Malaysia have only two points from two draws and a defeat.

As the Koreans took time to settle down, it was the Malaysians who made the initial running and laid seize on the Korean goal for the first ten minutes. However, thereafter it was Korea all the way after they went ahead through Yeo Woon-kon in the 25th minute, who beat Malaysian 'keeper Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim from a penalty-corner.

Hwang Jong-hyun made it 2-0 a minute later, finishing on a cross from Song Seung-tae.

Mohd Mat Radzi pulled one back for Malaysia in the 48th minute before the silver medallists at the Sydney Olympics could make it 3-1 in the 54th minute through Kim Jung-chul, who went on to complete the rout by scoring his second goal in the 58th minute.

Sydney Olympics bronze medallists Australia dropped two crucial points after being held by England 1-1 in another match on Day 4 of the tournament.

Both the goals came in the first-half. Ben Taylor put the Aussies ahead in the 24 minute before Craig Parnham could find the equaliser for England from a penalty-corner in the 33rd minute.

Australia are placed third on the points table behind South Korea and Germany in that order.

Complete Coverage: Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament, 2001