India beat Pakistan 3-1 in Asian Champions Trophy 2021

Dhaka: India beat Pakistan 3-1 in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Friday.

India outclassed Pakistan by three goals to one as Harmanpreet Singh netted two goals in the fifth match of the five-team. 

Harmanpreet put India in front in the ninth minute of the game with the second quarter going goal-less, Indian forward Akashdeep Singh doubled the lead for his team in the 42nd minute.

It was Pakistan’s first defeat in the six-team tournament. Their first match was a 0-0 draw against Japan on December 14.

After Harmanpreet and Akashdeep made it 2-0, Pakistan did show signs of a comeback when Junaid Manzoor halved the lead by the end of the third quarter.

However, Harmanpreet’s goal at the end of the last quarter took the game away from Pakistan, who are now placed in the fourth place in the preliminary round standings.

India, on the other hand, consolidated their place at the top of the table.

Pakistan play South Korea and Bangladesh in the remaining preliminary round matches tomorrow and day after respectively.

The top four sides in the round will make it to the semi-finals.