Dominant India thrash Pakistan in opening tie
Ramandeep scores brace on return as India post 40 win
BREDA (NETHERLANDS): India thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan 4-0 to get off to a dream start in the Champions Trophy on Saturday as head coach Harendra Singh began his stint impressively.
Goals from Ramandeep Singh (26th minute), Dilpreet Singh (54th), Mandeep Singh (57th) and Lalit Upadhyay (60th) capped India’s commanding performance, handing them their eighth win in nine games against their neighbours.
Pakistan did not play as poorly as the scoreline suggests but goals in the last six minutes transformed the match statistics. India were leading 2-0 in the fourth quarter when the team guided by former India coach Roelant Oltmans decided to take off goalkeeper Imran Butt for an extra outfield player in search of goals. The brave but risky move backfired, allowing India to score two more goals in the final four minutes of the game.
This was India’s seventh win in 19 outings over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
The contest got off to a sedate start with both teams treading cautiously as the first quarter ended goalless.
It was only towards the closing stages of the second quarter that Simranjeet Singh and Ramandeep provided a moment of brilliance which resulted in India scoring their first goal.
Simranjeet evaded two defenders to turn around and pass to Ramandeep, who deflected the ball into goal. Pakistan launched frantic attacks but the Indian defence thwarted the attempts.
India seized the moment in the 54th minute, and following a counter-attack, a long ball was beautifully converted by youngster Dilpreet Singh.
In a desperate move, Pakistan took off the goalkeeper to go all out attacking with 11 players. Indian forwards grabbed the chance to pump in two more goals. Mandeep first converted an easy chance following a long pass. Upadhyay then beat the hooter to score India’s final goal after receiving a flick-on from Ramandeep. India next play Olympic champions Argentina on Sunday.
In another match, Olympic champion Argentina defeated Netherlands 2-1.
Netherlands opened the scoring through Mirco Pruijser in the 14th minute before Argentina bounced back. Gonzalo Peildrew level through a penalty corner in the third quarter (34the minute) while Matias Paredes slammed the winner just at the stroke of final whistle (60th minute). In another clash Belgium and Australia drew 3-3.