India 2-2 Pakistan: Rivals play out entertaining draw in Hockey World League semis

Ramandeep Singh (C) celebrates scoring his second goal of the match with Sardar Singh (L) and Nikkin Thimaiah

India and Pakistan drew 2-2 in the Hockey World League (HWL) semis in a Pool A match. India came into the match having won their first two matches – against France and Poland. Pakistan, having won their first match against Poland, were humbled by the mighty Australians in their second match.

India’s only drag-flick specialist, Rupinder Pal Singh, started on the bench and Pakistan’s top goalscorer of the tournament Irfan Muhammad also failed to make the starting 11. The crowd looked really charged up and so did the players as was evident during the renditions of the respective national anthems.

Ranked 9th in the world, India were quick off the blocks and moved the ball well barely giving their opponents a sniff of the ball in the first 3 minutes. Both the teams played carefully, trying hard not to concede a goal and tempers flared when Yuvraj Walmiki was hit on the shin by Muhammad Rizwan Jr.’s stick after a wild swing by the Pakistani player.

In the 12th minute, however, Gurmail Singh escaped his marker on the left flank and hit a brilliant, grounded cross across the face of the goal. Ramandeep Singh, who had ghosted past the Pakistani defence at the back post, slid in to deflect the ball in the goal to send the Indian fans into a frenzy.

Right after the second quarter got underway, Pakistan forward Muhammad Dilber dribbled past a few Indian defenders before unleashing a shot, which was well saved by PR Sreejesh. In the 23rd minute, Pakistan got the first penalty corner of the match, which the defenders blocked, but the referee awarded another short corner to the team in green. The Indians referred, but lost their referral and from the resultant penalty corner, Pakistan earned a penalty stroke when the ball hit Devindar Walmiki’s foot on the line.

Pakistani captain Muhammad Imran coolly converted beyond Sreejesh, who had guessed the correct way. India got a penalty corner 5 minutes later to regain their lead, but in Rupinder Pal Singh’s absence Manpreet Singh’s tame shot went straight to the Pakistani goalkeeper Imran Butt. Near the end, India got a penalty corner, but due to lack of time, couldn’t take it. Forward Satbir Singh was given a yellow card for retaliating to the challenge and he would spend the first 10 minutes of the third quarter on the bench.

India show their quality in the second half

Pakistan started the second half on the front foot, as was expected, due to the numerical advantage as India sat back trying to keep the scoreline till Satbir’s return. However, after 7 minutes of valiant defending, India conceded a penalty corner, which Muhammad Imran made the most of, to get his, and Pakistan’s, second goal of the match.

Within a minute of going behind, India levelled the score when Ramandeep Singh kept a cool head after being put one-on-one with the goalkeeper by Devindar Walmiki. The importance of the goal is highlighted even more when we realise that India were still a man down when Ramandeep hit the back of the net. The rest of the quarter went without any changes to the scoreline as India completely dominated the third quarter despite the numerical disadvantage.

Pakistan had a brilliant chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty corner in the first minute of the final quarter, but they failed to trap the ball as India hit them on the counter. However, goalkeeper Imran Butt’s double save kept the scoreline on level terms. With 10 minutes to go in the match, Devindar Walmiki came on to make it 10-on-10 after seving his suspension.

In the 53rd minute, Yuvraj Walmiki failed to apply the final touch when he ran in front of the goalkeeper and a cross was deflected in his path. Ramandeep Singh could have completed his hat-trick when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his reverse shot sailed over the bar. The match ended soon after as India went top of the group on 7 points in 3 matches. Pakistan are third in the table with 4 points from 3 matches.

India play Australia on 28th June at 7.30 pm while Pakistan face France at 3.30 pm on the same day.