Gold Coast 2018: India concedes last minute goal, split points with Pak
A panicky India conceded a series of penalty corners and a goal to Pakistan in the last minute of its opening game of the XXIst Commonwealth Games Hockey Tournament at Gold Coast to end with a 2-2 draw on Saturday.
India, who were sitting with a comfortable 2-0 lead at the end of first half, went into shell, defended and committed unpardonable errors to allow Pakistan to come back into the game and snatch a point in the last minute of the game.
Though young Dilpreet Singh gave India lead through a brilliant field goal in the first quarter, India looked well on its mark when Harmanpreet Singh also converted a penalty corner in the second quarter to consolidate the lead. But that was the end of India's ideas.
Stray instances of individual brilliance notwithstanding, it was Pakistan that dominated third and fourth quarters in general and last 10 minutes in particular. India conceded six penalty corners during this period. Too much of dribbling, delay in clearances and crowded defence proved fatal for the current Asia Cup champions.
For Pakistan, the draw today keeps them in the hunt for a place in semis after they had played 1-1 draw against Wales in the first game. Now Pakistan has two points from two games while India has a solitary point from its first game.
It was a dream start for young Dilpreet Singh. Playing his first game against Pakistan, he could not have asked for more when in the 10th minute he scored a beautiful field goal, thanks to an excellent opening created by winger SV Sunil.
Playing with both Rupinderpal and Harmanpreet Singh, India had its share of chance in penalty corners. Except for a goal by Harmanpreet in the second quarter, other half a dozen awards went waste.
Pakistan may have benefitted from the tips their new coach Roland Oltmans may have provided on the base of his long association with the Indian team as its Chief Coach.
It was Irfan Junior who scored the first field goal for Pakistan before the last minute penalty corner conversion gave it a well deserved 2-2 draw.
-PTC News
