Kakamigahara (Japan), Nov 7 (IANS) A young Indian hockey team went down fighting to Pakistan 4-5 at the 3rd Men’s Asian Champions Trophy here Thursday.
India scored through Gurjinder Singh (24th minute), Amit Rohidas (30th minute), Manpreet Singh (40th minute) and Malak Singh (49th minute) while Abdul Haseem Khan (2nd minute), Mohammad Imran (35th minute), Mohammad Rizwan (36th & 44th minute) and Mohammad Rizwan Junior (53rd minute) scored for Pakistan.
Pakistan took an early lead in the second minute with the field goal scored by Abdul Haseem Khan. India got the equalizer in the 24th minute when Gurjinder Singh successfully converted a penalty corner.
India took a 2-1 lead in the 30th minute when Amit Rohidas converted a penalty corner by sending a low drag-flick into the left corner. Pakistan were back to 2-2 in the 35th minute through a penalty corner converted by Mohammad Imran.
Pakistan started the second half with an early goal in the 36th minute through Mohammad Rizwan but Indian skipper Manpreet Singh sent a soaring shot from the top of the circle after being put in possession by Malak Singh to level the score 3-3 in the 40th minute.
Mohammad Rizwan scored a field goal in the 44th minute to put his team ahead of India. Malak Singh scored in the 49th minute to level the score 4-4 but four minutes later Mohammad Rizwan Junior beat the Indian defenders to score the winning goal for Pakistan.
India will now face Malaysia in their last league match here Friday.
