India Thrash Pakistan 6-1 In Hockey World League, Move To 5th Place Playoff

The Indian hockey team continued their domination of arch rivals Pakistan in Hockey World League(HWL) today, thrashing them 6-1 in the 5-8th spot playoff today. With this, India ended the Pakistan team’s hopes of qualifying for the Hockey World Cup to be held in Bhubhaneshwar. The win comes after India’s 7-1 win against Pakistan on Sunday, and would boost India’s morale a great deal as they prepare to face Canada for the 5th-6th spot playoff.

Ramandeep and Mandeep Singh got two goals apiece while Talwinder and Harmanpreet struck once each as India raced to 4-0 when the buzzer rung for half time. India pressed from the word go, and Satbir Singh, appearing in his 50th international match for India, deftly spotted Ramandeep Singh in the circle who put away the ball deftly to put India ahead in the 8th minute. Talwinder struck in the 25th minute, angling a great pass from Pradeep Mor, and in the 27th minute, Akashdeep set up most of a third goal. It was his brilliant dribble that got past the defenders, while it was Mandeep who got a touch on the ball before it went past the goalkeeper. Finally, Ramandeep struck in a diving effort in the 28th minute to take India to 4-0 before the end of the first half.

Harmanpreet Singh scored immediately after the second half began, off a penalty corner with an improvised drag flick that kept the ball unusually low in the 36th minute. Pressure was mounting on Pakistan, and they scored through Ajaz Ahmad in the 41st minute, off a mistake made by the Indian defenders. However, it was not enough and the Pakistani forwards grew more and more desperate in their attempts as the clock ticked away. India scored again in the 59th minute, with Mandeep Singh driving the ball in through a rebound off a penalty corner chance, and that was the last goal of the match.