Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament 2023: India beat Pakistan 4-0

Akashdeep Singh scored the final goal for India at 55th minute of the game through a field play. Caption Harmanpreet Singh converted two penalty corners (15th, 23rd minutes), while Jugraj Singh (36th) netted from another set piece.

Now India topped the standings with 13 points from four wins and one draw, while Pakistan crashed out of the tournament on goal difference despite finishing on equal five points with Korea and Japan.

Pakistan needed at least a draw or a one-goal defeat to make it to the semifinals.

Now, India will play with Japan in the semifinal on Friday, while Malaysia will locks horns against Korea.

Both India and Pakistan started the match in a attacking mood. Pakistan showed the early sparks by getting into the Indian circle on quite a few occasions. But the Indian defence did not allowed any inroads.

Pakistan was first to get a penalty corner which was brilliantly saved by the Indian goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak.

Pakistan appealed for a penalty corner in the ninth minute of the game after Karthi Selvam, Jarmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh made three attacking attempts which were rejected by the video referee.

In the 13th minutes, Selvam from India made a solo attack inside the Pakistan box, only to be denied by rival goalie Akmal Hussain.

India earned its penalty corner just at the stroke of first quarter. Harmanpreet flicked it with a powerful low flick to the left of Pakistan goalkeeper Akmal to put India into lead.

In the 21st minutes, Pakistan came close to levelling the scores, but Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh came out rushing to deny the visitors.

India won their second penalty corner in the 23rd minute and Harmanpreet scored with a fierce drag-flick in between Pakistan goalkeeper Akmal’s legs to double the lead.

India led Pakistan 2-0 at half-time.

India continued with the same intensity and India found the net in the 41st again, as Harmanpreet flashed it in while it took a deflection off a Pakistani stick.

But the goal was overturned following a video referral for dangerous ball.

The Indians had another chance with Selvam passing the ball comfortably inside the box to an unmarked Akashdeep, who pushed the ball wide with an open net in front of him.

Pakistan earned a rare penalty corner in the 43rd minute but wasted the opportunity.

India made the scoreline 4-0 in their favour in the 55th minute when Akashdeep deflected in Mandeep Singh’s strike.

India earned five penalty corners in the match and converted three out of them.

Akashdeep scored India’s fourth goal.

Updated: 10 Aug 2023, 12:06 AM IST