Pakistan’s Mohamed Imran (left) vies for the ball with Indian players during their Hockey World League semi-final Pool A clash in Brasschaat yesterday. (AFP)

 

IANS/Antwerp


The much-anticipated Hockey World League (HWL) semi-final Pool A clash between traditional rivals India and Pakistan ended in a 2-2 stalemate at the Brasschaat Municipal Park here yesterday.
Ramandeep Singh (13th and 39th) scored for world No.9 India while his brace was matched by world No.10 Pakistan captain Mohamed Imran, who converted a penalty stroke and a penalty corner in the 23rd and 37th minutes respectively.
India were the better team at the start with the players combining and coordinating well. They got the more of the ball possession in the first quarter as Pakistan took time to get into a rhythm.
Pakistan got a great chance of going ahead as Shakeel Ammad set up Mohamed Waqas only for the latter to waste it.
However, India got the crucial 1-0 lead in the 13th minute as Gurmail Singh drove the ball inside the Pakistan circle in a blistering speed and Ramandeep, lurking in front of the goal, made full commitment and threw his body to deflect the ball in.
In the second quarter, Pakistan regrouped and bounced back strongly to make lethal circle penetrations and threatening Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh every time. The best part of Pakistan was the way they managed the space in the field while it seemed India, after getting the lead, were more focused on keeping their lead.
Pakistan got a penalty corner in the 23rd minute and skipper Mohamed Imran’s flick was saved on the goalline by Devindar Sunil Walmiki with a backstick, leading to a penalty stroke. Seasoned Imran stepped up to convert it to a goal even if Sreejesh correctly dived to his right.
India responded well and were rewarded with a penalty corner that was wasted by a lethargic strike from Manpreet Singh and both the teams went into the break at 1-1.
Continuing their ascendancy, Pakistan played a fluent game, while India played with 10 members as Satbir Singh sat outside following a yellow card.
Pakistan earned a penalty corner in the 37th minute that was converted successfully as Imran flicked high into the net, easily beating Sreejesh.
India responded two minutes later as Devindar got a pass from skipper Sardar Singh and surged into the rival circle to set it up for Ramandeep, who lifted the ball high into the net for his brace.
With the game still 2-2, India and Pakistan both wasted a penalty corner each in the fourth quarter as their stoppers failed to properly check the balls after the push.
India, especially, missed a penalty corner expert with VR Raghunath in India due to injury and Rupinder Pal Singh is still recovering from an injury he sustained during a warm-up game here.
The responsibility was on Manpreet and in this match filled with pressure, it was way too much pressure for the youngster as the rival goalkeeper Imran Butt had a very good day in the office.
Butt showed very good reflexes as he dived twice in one minute to keep India at bay and ultimately both the teams tried in vain in search of the winner.

Indian eves gear up for Aussies
Having already secured a quarterfinal berth from pool B, India are gearing up for a tough contest against world No.2 Australia in the women’s Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Final at the Brasschaat Municipal Park here today.
Mathias Ahrens-coached world No.13 India lost the first two matches against Belgium (0-1) and New Zealand (0-5). However they registered a 3-1 win over world No.23 Poland on Wednesday to boost their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
The Polish girls, being beaten in all the four matches, have already crashed out of the competition, paving the way for India’s entry into the quarter-finals in the 10-nation tournament.
Now, India are up against a side that has performed admirably. World Cup 2014 runners-up Australia hammered Poland 9-0 before registering convincing wins over hosts Belgium and world No.4 New Zealand with 2-0 margins.