Pakistan draw with India to set up final showdown

Pakistan drew their match with India 2-2 to move to the final of the 1st Men’s Asian Champions Trophy Hockey in Ordos, China. The greenshirts will face India again in the final as Japan’s loss to Malaysia gave an India an entry in the final.
Pakistan required a draw to reach final and were unlucky as India came from behind to make the score two-all. Malaysia with 3-2 win over Japan got the fourth place in the championship providing India a shot with Pakistan yet again in the final.
In the first half, both teams put up an attacking display but failed to convert it into goals. Five minutes into the second half, Pakistan opened the scoring. Pakistan took a 2-0 lead through Muhammad Waqas (40th minute) and Muhammad Irfan (42nd), but India responded immediately with Rupinder finding the target from an indirect penalty-corner and Danish Mujtaba scoring the equaliser in the 53rd minute. However, the green shirts squandered their lead and were denied a win by India who leveled the score through Rupinderpal and Danish Mujtaba.
Asif Bajwa, Secretary General Pakistan Hockey Federation, said that the national team had put up a great performance and the young team had proved themselves against the big teams.
He further added that the national selectors had not closed the doors on the senior players and all seniors and juniors will be included in the Olympic preparations.
Previously in the tournament, Pakistan won three matches, lost one and drawn one and lead the group with ten points. India, however, staged a fightback to hold Pakistan in a thrilling final group encounter and thus remained unbeaten throughout the entire tournament.
India conceded two goals in two minutes to trail 0-2 by the 42nd minute. However, they fought back to draw the match under chilly and windy conditions. Following the draw, Pakistan booked a berth for the summit clash with 10 points from three wins and a draw.
Mujtaba’s equaliser, a deflection from his stick, was a tad controversial as New Zealand umpire Simon Taylor did not initially award a goal. But the Indians appealed and the South Korean umpire, after consultation with Taylor, awarded a goal.