~Arun Sahani (11’), Poovanna CB (42’), and Captain Uttam Singh (52’) have been goalscorers for India~
Johor Bahru (Malaysia), 4th November 2023: The Indian Junior Males’s Hockey Workforce defeated Pakistan 3-3 (6-5 SO) in a hard-fought third/4th place match right this moment to clinch the Bronze medal on the eleventh Sultan of Johar Cup. The action-packed encounter noticed Arun Sahani (11’), Poovanna CB (42’), and Captain Uttam Singh (52’) rating for India whereas Sufyan Khan (33’), Abdul Qayyum (50’), and Captain Shahid Hannan (57’) scored for Pakistan to finish regulation time at 3-3. The penalty shootouts went all the best way to sudden dying as India’s goalkeeper Mohith H.S denied Pakistan Captain to clinch Bronze with a nervy 6-5 shootout win.
The sport began with each groups cautiously probing for possibilities. Pakistan’s goalkeeper Ali Raza was known as into motion midway by way of the primary quarter, as Gurjot Singh stayed alert within the circle and unleashed a reverse shot that sailed simply extensive of the submit. As India regarded to press for the opening objective it was Arun Sahani who stepped as much as deflect Rohit’s looking go into objective. Pakistan was below strain in direction of the top of the quarter with India creating a few possibilities and forcing Ali Raza to save lots of.
Pakistan tried to retain possession in India’s half in the hunt for an equaliser within the second quarter, incomes two penalty corners however didn’t capitalise on both of them. In the meantime, India saved the Pakistan defence on their toes with the occasional counterattack. Nevertheless, neither crew managed to vary the scoreline of their favour heading into the second half.
Pakistan’s arduous work bore fruit within the second half with Sufyan Khan slotting the ball into Mohith H.S’s internet from a penalty nook. A interval of Pakistani dominance adopted however the Indian defence remained resilient. With three minutes left within the quarter, Poovanna CB flicked the ball into objective after a missed penalty nook to revive India’s lead.
Within the final quarter, Pakistan appeared decided to equalize once more, pinning India again in their very own circle. Because the strain continued to mount it was Pakistan’s Abdul Qayyum who breached India’s objective to deliver the groups again on stage phrases. However India flipped the swap, taking the sport to Pakistan and it wasn’t too lengthy earlier than Captain Uttam Singh scored from a chaotic penalty nook, to make it 3-2. Pakistan threw within the kitchen sink of their seek for an equaliser, creating quite a few penalty corners and it was Pakistan Captain Shahid Hannan who made 3-3 along with his objective on the finish of the regulation time, taking the sport to penalty shootouts.
Pakistan’s Arshad Liaqat, Hannan Shahid, Abdul Rehman, and Ahtisham Aslam discovered the again of the web within the penalty shootout whereas Vishnukant Singh, Rajinder Singh, Angad Bir Singh, and Uttam Singh answered again with objectives of their very own to take it sudden dying. Vishnukant Singh and Arshad Liaqat transformed their respective possibilities in sudden dying, though, after Angad Bir Singh transformed his likelihood India’s keeper, Mohith H.S shadowed Shahid Hannan completely to sort out him and sealed the wonderful victory for the Indian Junior Males’s Hockey Workforce
