India beat Pakistan 2-1, qualify for Azlan Shah final

Ipoh (Malaysia), Apr 11 (PTI) Indian skipper Sandeep
Singh continued his goal-scoring spree as India pipped
Pakistan 2-1 to reach the final of the five-nation Azlan Shah
hockey tournament here Saturday.

The in-form Sandeep, leading goal scorer for his side in
the tournament, struck twice in the 28th and 60th minutes to
seal the win in the do-or-die tie at the Azlan Shah Stadium.

For Pakistan, Mohamed Saqlain reduced the margin in the
50th minute.

With this win, India sealed their place in Sunday's final
with eight points in their kitty.

Sandeep led from the front in the crucial encounter
against the traditional rivals, scoring on either side of the
break and then ensuring that India does not succumb to their
perennial habit of conceding late goals.

After 28 minutes of mid-field scramble by both the sides,
India finally took the lead though Sandeep to go into the
breather with a 1-0 lead.

Trailing by a goal, Pakistan came out all guns blazing in
the second half and made repeated unsuccessful forays into the
Indian penalty area before Saqlain drew parity in the 50th
minute.

Stung by the reverse, India, who needed a victory to
ensure their place in the final, attacked with purpose and
regained lead 10 minutes later with Sandeep again founding the
cage.

Although Pakistan tried hard for the equaliser in the
dying stages of the match, the Indian defence stood firm and
ensured that there were no last moments hiccups. PTI SSC
PMR
NNNN