Hockey Test Series: Pakistan defeat India 3-1](Geo News: Latest News Breaking, Live Videos, World, Entertainment, Royal)
CHUNRIGAR: India’s gamble to blood young players backfired completely as Pakistan exploited chinks in the defence to trounce the hosts 3-1 and take a 2-0 lead in the six-match hockey series here today.
After the 2-1 defeat in the opening Test, the Indians again cut a sorry figure as they were thoroughly outplayed by the far more experienced Pakistanis in the floodlit match which seldom rose to great heights.
The home team did reasonably well to hold the visitors in the initial stages of the game, watched by a sizeable crowd, but seemed to lose their way in the action-packed second half.
The dashing Rehan Butt struck two goals in the 41st and 68th minute while Tariq Aziz (60th) chipped in with one for Pakistan. Sandeep Singh found the target for India in the 44th minute through a brilliant drag flick to reduce the margin.
The last match of the India leg would be played in Jalandhar on Monday. The Indians are slated to cross the border to play the remaining three matches of the bilateral series.
I was disapointed with our forwards ability to convert chances into goals. We could have easily gotten 5-1 win instead of 1-1 draw in the last game. How are we supposed to compete with Euros if we can't soundly beat India?
I wish the offside rule was still in place. It's no fun to see long shots being played to forwards already in the D waiting to deflect it to goal.
The dribbling skills that Asian hockey was famous for made the game fun to watch. All these long shots mgith be making the game faster, but at the expense of enjoyment.
And why is Karachi being ignored again in favour of tour of Punjab only?
*By Khalid Hussain
*
KARACHI: India scored three goals within eight minutes in a spectacular comeback to force a 3-3 draw against Pakistan in the final match of the six-Test hockey series in Rawalpindi.
Trailing by three goals, the Indians dominated the last 15 minutes of the action-packed game to end the Pakistan leg of the series with a 1-0 win.
Short corner specialist Sandeep Singh brought India back into the match with a 54th minute strike while Shivender Singh and man of the match Vikram Pillay struck in quick succession to pull off a satisfactory result for India. …
