In a thrilling encounter at the Asian Champions Trophy, India’s captain Harmanpreet Singh displayed stellar form, scoring twice to secure a 2-1 victory over their fierce rivals, Pakistan, on Saturday. The intense match, dubbed ‘Fultonball,’ was filled with high-octane drama, showcasing why this rivalry remains one of the most captivating in sports.

India’s dominance over Pakistan in hockey has been evident, boasting 16 wins in their last 25 meetings since 2013. This trend continued as Harmanpreet’s brace ensured India remained unbeaten in the tournament. The atmosphere was electric, with emotions running high as both teams fought tooth and nail for supremacy.

The game began with Pakistan’s Moin Shakeel seizing an early opportunity to challenge India’s defense. He managed to break through but ultimately squandered his chance. Throughout the first quarter, Pakistan continued to press hard, with Ajaz Ahmad posing a significant threat from the right flank. However, their efforts failed to materialize into a goal.

It was Ahmad Nadeem who broke the deadlock, capitalizing on a lapse in India’s defense after Hannan Shahid initiated an attack. Nadeem’s cool finish gave Pakistan a surprising lead, marking the first time India had trailed in the tournament. The pressure was on, but India quickly responded by earning a penalty corner. Harmanpreet, known for his impeccable drag-flicking skills, effortlessly equalized, sending the ball past a stationary Pakistan goalkeeper. The first quarter concluded with a 1-1 scoreline.

Early in the second quarter, India gained the upper hand when Harmanpreet converted another penalty corner, maintaining his perfect conversion rate. Pakistan’s challenges compounded as Abu Mahmood suffered a knee injury and had to be stretchered off. Despite these setbacks, the battle for possession intensified.

India attempted to control the game using aerial passes but struggled with accuracy. Jarmanpreet Singh’s missed attempt allowed Pakistan to counterattack, but they failed to capitalize, keeping the score at 2-1.

As the third quarter unfolded, both teams continued to create opportunities. India earned another penalty corner after Araijeet was fouled while dribbling towards the goal, but Harmanpreet’s shot was expertly blocked by Pakistan’s defense. The action quickly shifted to the other end, where Pakistan earned a penalty corner. Jarmanpreet took charge defensively and thwarted Pakistan’s effort with his stick.

Pakistan enjoyed a brief period of dominance and nearly equalized multiple times. India’s goalkeeper Krishan Pathak made an impressive double save, first deflecting the ball with his left hand and then blocking the rebound with his body. His heroics continued as he made another crucial save with his right foot after a deflected shot from a penalty corner.

The momentum shifted dramatically after Sufyan of Pakistan received a yellow card and a five-minute suspension for tipping Nilkanta Sharma during a tackle. Despite this advantage, India couldn’t extend their lead before the third quarter ended.

In the fourth quarter, India resumed their attacking play, with Abhishek narrowly missing a goal with a reverse hit. Pakistan regained full strength with Sufyan’s return but soon faced another setback when Rana Waheed Ashraf was suspended for ten minutes due to misconduct.

Both teams were down to ten men after India’s Manpreet Singh received a five-minute yellow card. Despite this disadvantage and relentless pressure from Pakistan, India held firm and secured a well-fought 2-1 victory.

The match was an exhilarating showcase of skill, strategy, and sheer willpower, highlighting the enduring rivalry between these two hockey powerhouses.