Pakistan beats India 3-2 in SAF hockey final

Colombo, Aug 25 (UNI) India faltered at the final hurdle and conceded two second half goals in a space of five minutes to see the SAF Games Gold slip through its fingers as Pakistan pipped them at the post with a 3-2 win at the Nandimithra Ekanayake Ground at Matale today.

Both the teams were tied 1-1 at half time.

Despite going into the final with a clean slate and pumping in 15 goals, conceding just one, India finished their campaign with a Silver.

For India, Sardar Singh (35th minute) and Vikram Kanth (56th) scored while for Pakistan, Imran Warsi (37th, 42nd) struck a brace after Shabbir Ahmed (6th) had opened their account.

This was a sweet revenge for Pakistan who were beaten 0-2 by India in the SAF Games opener.

Earlier, hosts Sri Lanka tamed Bangladesh 2-0 to win the bronze.

India had not settled in the middle before Shabbir sounded the board in the sixth minute. The goal jolted India out of the inertia and the V Raja-led side showed some sense of urgency.

It took them almost an hour before Sardar Singh translated a penalty corner to draw parity and they went into the breather with honours even.

When play resumed, Pakistan mounted attack and the Indian defence looked extremely vulnerable. It was panic all over and the Indian defence conceded penalty corners with star Pakistani international Imran Warsi converting two of them in a space of five minutes.

Trailing 1-3, the desperate Indians tried everything they could and Vikram Kanth's field goal saw them reducing the gap as well. But Pakistan had beefed up their defence by that time and despite repeated raids, Indian forwards just could not open the gate and lost the Gold.

Coach Clarence Lobo was dejected as Indian ended up being the second best.

''We played the best hockey of the tournament and finished second best. I always knew that Pakistan would be more than eager to avenge their league match defeat and my fears proved true.

''My boys did well but we would have been better off with some good finishing,'' he rued.

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