IPOH: India kept their hopes of playing the championship match at the 2012 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup alive, with a goal from SV Sunil in the dying minutes giving Michael Nobbs' men a thrilling 2-1 victory over archrivals Pakistan in Ipoh on Thursday.
India went into the lead in the 31st minute when Sandeep Singh slotted one in past the Pakistan goalkeeper on the first of four penalty corners India earned in the match.
Pakistan, who earned as many as six penalty corners, converted one through their skipper and world's highest goal-scorer Sohail Abbas in the 60th minute as the two teams picked up pace in the last 15 minutes, displaying the flair associated with Asian
As the match entered the last five minutes, both the teams displayed end-to-end stuff, but it was SV Sunil's pace that turned the match in India's favour. Off a counter-attack stitched by Sardar Singh in the 69th minute, Sunil dived in the Pakistan circle to deflect a through ball into the goal to spark off wild celebrations.
However, despite this win, India's chances of playing the 1st-2nd place playoff hang by a thread. India are now level at 9 points with Argentina and New Zealand. Also Great Britain are breathing down India's neck with 8 points and a match in hand.
So it means India would want New Zealand, Argentina, and Great Britain to lose all their matches and then have the goal difference turn up in their favour.
Jaspreet Sahni