Hockey World Cup: India thrash Pakistan in a thriller, advance to second round

AMSTELVEEN: India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in a thrilling match in Pool D of the Men's Hockey World Cup. A total of 8 goals were scored in the match. India advanced to the next round as the second-placed team behind England. India has 6 points with two wins.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek scored two goals each for India against Pakistan. Hardik Singh scored one goal. Hannan Shahid scored a brace for Pakistan, while Sufyan Khan scored one goal.

India played aggressively from the start and took a 3-0 lead to shock Pakistan. Harmanpreet scored the first goal in the fifth minute. Abhishek scored in the 11th minute. Harmanpreet scored his second goal and the team's third goal in the 21st minute.

Pakistan recovered soon and pulled one back in the 22nd minute through Hannan Shahid. But within two minutes, Abhishek gave India a 4-1 lead with a beautiful field goal. Immediately after, Sufyan scored for Pakistan from a penalty corner. In the third quarter, India was awarded a penalty stroke for a foul on Aditya Arjun Lalege inside the Pakistan box. Vice-captain Hardik converted this opportunity in the 35th minute to increase India's lead to 5-2.

In the first minute of the fourth quarter, Hannan Shahid scored again for Pakistan (5-3), paving the way for a thriller. After Aditya Arjun received a yellow card, India was reduced to 10 men in the last 5 minutes. However, the Indian defence fought unwaveringly and neutralised the Pakistani attacks.