ISLAMABAD: In a gripping encounter at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2024, held at the Moqi National Hockey Centre in Inner Mongolia, China, India narrowly edged out a resilient Pakistan team with a 2-1 victory to remain unbeaten through the league stage on Saturday.

Securing the runners-up position on the points table, Pakistan will now compete against third-place finishers China in the semifinals on Monday. Meanwhile, India is set to face Korea in a bid to reach the finals.

The highly anticipated match between arch-rivals Pakistan and India saw Pakistan initially taking control of the game. Ahmad Nadeem provided an early lead for Pakistan with a goal in the 8th minute. However, India’s captain, Harmanpreet Singh, showcased his leadership and skill by scoring two crucial goals on penalty corners in the 13th and 19th minutes, turning the tide in India’s favor.

Despite falling behind early, India mounted a swift comeback. Harmanpreet’s first penalty corner conversion was a testament to their strategic prowess. Throughout the match, Pakistan created numerous half-chances and earned several penalty corners, but India’s defense, marshaled by goalkeeper Krishan Pathak, stood resolute. A missed penalty corner by Pakistan’s Sufiyan Khan just before halftime ensured that India maintained their 2-1 lead going into the break.

As the third quarter commenced, India controlled the ball effectively, executing flank-to-flank passes that pushed Pakistan deep into their defensive circle. A missed tackle by Sufiyan Khan on Araijeet Singh Hundal led to India earning their third penalty corner of the match, though Harmanpreet’s drag-flick was blocked by Pakistan’s first-rusher.

The intensity ramped up in the latter stages of the third quarter as Pakistan pressed hard for an equalizer. Despite earning a series of penalty corners, they were unable to breach the steadfast defense of Indian goalie Krishan Pathak. As a result, India ended the third quarter still in the lead at 2-1.

In the final quarter, India earned back-to-back penalty corners but were thwarted by Pakistan’s defense. Tensions escalated as both teams pushed relentlessly, searching for opportunities. A physical foul by Ashraf Waheed Rana on Jugraj Singh resulted in a 10-minute yellow card for Rana, giving India a numerical advantage. However, they failed to capitalize on this as they frequently lost possession in the attacking third.

With only two minutes left on the clock, Manpreet Singh received a yellow card, leveling the playing field to 10 men each for both teams. Nilakanta Sharma, who was named Hero of the Match, emphasized the need for improvement despite their victory, stating, “Although we won, we kept losing the ball and it got us in trouble. We need to protect the ball better going forward.”

In another intense clash, Korea and Malaysia fought to a thrilling 3-3 draw. Both teams were determined to secure their place in the semifinals, with Korea scoring a last-minute goal to deny Malaysia a win. Malaysia’s goals came from Azrai Abu Kamal (28′), Norsyafiq Sumantri (35′), and Faizal Saari (55′). Korea’s tenacity was evident as Yang Jihun scored twice (4′, 60+), and Cheoleon Park added another (42′), ensuring a share of the points. Despite Malaysia’s dominance, evidenced by 13 shots in the opening quarter alone, Korea capitalized on defensive lapses to stay competitive.

The home crowd at Moqi National Hockey Centre celebrated as China secured a vital 2-0 victory over Japan. This win elevated China to No. 3 in the standings and guaranteed their spot in the semifinals. Goals from Benhai Chen (7′) and Jieming Chao (25′) secured the win for China. Their defensive strength was particularly notable, with goalie Caiyu Wang making several critical saves. Japan earned multiple penalty corners in the third quarter but failed to convert due to China’s robust defense.

Hero of the Match Benhai Chen expressed his joy and determination, saying, “We did a lot of preparation and wanted to win today and make the semifinals. Now we’ll focus on preparing for Pakistan.”

With the league stage concluded, the Hero Asian Champions Trophy semifinals will see China face Pakistan and India take on Korea on Monday, promising an even higher level of thrilling hockey action.