Hockey World League Semi-Final: Four reasons for team India's biggest win against Pakistan
- India beat Pakistan 7-1, the biggest ever defeat Pakistan has faced against India
- Akashdeep, Harmanpreet and Talwinder Singh each scored two goals. Pardeep Mor scored the final goal
- Akash Chitke and Vikas Dahiya provided the best defence India has seen in recent times
FollowWhile India’s cricket team was losing to Pakistan at The Oval on Sunday, June 18, 2017, at the other end of London, at the Olympic Park, the Indian hockey team was giving its Pakistani counterpart a drubbing. India beat Pakistan 7-1, the biggest ever defeat Pakistan has faced against India. This came after Canada beat the Greenshirts 6-0 on Friday, June 16, 2017. Unlike the cricket team, India’s hockey team was clinical in its approach and fearless in the face of pressure. Here are a few factors that helped India beat its rival Pakistan to book a quarter-final berth In the Hockey World League Semi-Final.
1) Â Â Relentless forward attack
The Indian forward was like a battering ram. With Akashdeep Singh leading the way, the players manoeuvred deftly around Pakistani defence to score some breathtaking goals. Akashdeep, Harmanpreet and Talwinder Singh each scored two goals. Pardeep Mor scored the final goal.
2)   Pakistan’s initial attack fizzled out
Pakistan was dogged in its initial attempt to stop the Indian side. However, it looked like the Pakistani players were playing more from the emotions controlling them than a plan. They nearly took the lead in the first five minutes of the match when they earned a penalty corner. However, they faltered, and as the game progressed, the Pakistanis’ aggression fizzled out.
3) Â Â Assists by mid-fielders
Sardar Singh and Captain Manpreet Singh have become India’s most formidable midfielders, both attacking and defending when needed. Sardar helped Akashdeep a goal while Manpreet and Harjit Singh did their bit to forward the ball and cut back to defend according to plan.
4) Â Â Fortress defence
Akash Chitke and Vikas Dahiya are probably the best goalkeepers India can ask for. Vikas saved two attempts from Pakistani striker Ajaz while India was leading 2-0. Â Akash Chitke came in at the third quarter of the game. He saved two penalty corners while India was leading 4-0. Pakistan scored in their fifth penalty quarter when the defence line was a little slow in countering after a goal-line save by Surendra Kumar. But the damage was already done, and India won 7-1.
The Indian side will now take on the world no 4 Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
