India extended their dominance over Pakistan with a brilliant comeback, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 in their final Asian Champions Trophy group-stage match on September 14. Walking into the game as favorites, India was unbeaten in the tournament, but the defending champions were shocked when Pakistan’s Ahmad Nadeem struck early in the first quarter to give his side an unexpected lead.
India’s defense faltered, allowing the early goal, but their attack-line quickly responded. Soon after, India earned a penalty corner, and skipper Harmanpreet Singh, calm under pressure, equalized with a powerful drag-flick.
As the second quarter began, India intensified their attacking efforts, and it wasn’t long before Harmanpreet struck again, this time from the penalty spot, doubling India’s lead. Pakistan’s defense struggled to cope with India’s relentless forward line, with their shaky positioning exploited at every opportunity. While Nadeem and Ajaz Ahmad tried to ignite Pakistan’s attack, they lacked support. Pakistan’s problems worsened when Abubakar Mahmood was stretchered off with a serious knee injury.
In the second half, Pakistan began to show attacking promise, creating several chances, but India’s goalkeeper Krishan Kumar Pathak was in top form, pulling off multiple crucial saves. His standout moment came late in the third quarter when he made a remarkable double-save from a Pakistan penalty corner, keeping India’s lead intact.
Tensions flared in the final quarter when a rough challenge by Waheed Ashraf Rana on Sukhjeet Singh sparked a heated exchange between Harmanpreet and Rana. The Pakistan player received a yellow card, leading to a 10-minute suspension. Things came heavy for India too, when Manpreet Singh was handed a 5-minute suspension in the dying moments of the final quarter.
Despite Pakistan’s late rushes, India’s defense held firm, securing their spot in the semi-finals with an unbeaten record. While India had defeated Pakistan 10-2 in their last encounter, this game proved to be a much more competitive and intense affair.