Ramandeep Singh scored two fine goals as the showpiece sub-continental hockey encounter between India and Pakistan ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw in the World League Semifinals at the KHC Dragons Stadium here on Friday.
Asian Games champion India threatened to score a late match-winner when its strikers thrice took shots at the rival citadel in the last three minutes during a surcharged encounter played at a brisk pace.
After opening the scoring in the 13th minute, Ramandeep came back to score the eventual equaliser with an opportunistic flick into the net in the 39th minute after Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran scored twice.
Imran’s two goals came off a penalty stroke in the 28th minute and through a rasping penalty corner drag-flick in the in the 37th.
The Indian defence gave a fine exhibition, but there were a lot of wayward marksmanship by its strikers as Pakistan also fell back to defend stoutly in the first encounter since the Champions Trophy semifinals.
The draw gives India seven points from three outings in Pool A ahead of the fixture against World champions Australia.
Pakistan now have four points from three matches, having lost the match against Australia.
India enjoyed some early domination in an exhibition of clean hockey by both the teams. Both India and Pakistan built their attacks on counters and the period of clean tackling was disturbed when Pakistan striker Muhammad Rizwan Junior’s swinging stick hit Yuvraj Walmiki on his right knee.
Yuvraj had to undergo a long period of ice-pack treatment on the bench before he was seen in action again late in the first half.
India took the lead in the 13th minute with a diving deflection by Ramandeep, who capitalised on Gurmail Singh’s diagonal cross from left into the circle.
At the other end of the pitch, Indian goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh had to pad away a long cross to ward off any danger.
India posed a threat to the Pakistan circle again in the 15th minute when Gurbaj’s cross from right found Satbir Singh inside the circle, but Satbir could not control the ball.
Pakistan forced two successive penalty corners in the 22nd minute in a period of domination, during which it equalised.
The ball struck Indian defender Jasjit Singh’s foot on the goalline, causing a penalty stroke that was duly converted by captain Muhammad Imran.
In the process, India also lost its referral.
India forced its first penalty corner in the 28th minute when Satbir’s cross from right was carried by a defender.
As penalty corner specialist Rupinder Pal Singh was not fielded, the shot was taken by Manpreet Singh and was palmed back by the goalkeeper.
The ball struck onrushing striker Yuvraj on the thigh, but they did not have the right of referral and the umpire waved away the protests.
India was awarded its second penalty corner when Satbir was obstructed from taking a shot inside the circle, but it was cancelled as he tried the shot after the umpire had blown the whistle.
Satbir was also shown the yellow card, and had to sit out for 10 minutes in the second session, during which India played with 10 players throughout the third quarter.
Just before Satbir was called back to the field, Devindar Walmiki got a yellow card for a foul deep inside the Indian territory.
Pakistan went 2-1 ahead on its third penalty corner as Imran scored his second goal with a rasping drag-flick in the 37th minute. The lead lasted just two minutes as Ramandeep equalised by shooting on target with an opportunistic strike on a through ball from the right flank.
India forced another penalty corner in the 41st minute, but the ball could not be stopped.
The Indian goalkeeper did well to block an opportunistic hit by Pakistan forward Muhammad Waqas, warding off the danger in the 55th minute.
The last five minutes saw India get three scoring opportunities and Ramandeep had a chance to compete his hat-trick in the penultimate minute when he sent the ball soaring high to Pakistan’s relief.
The result: India 2 (Ramandeep Singh 13, 39) drew with Pakistan 2 (Mohammad Imran 23, 37).
