Pakistan beat India 5-4 to clinch Asian Hockey Champions Trophy
Pakistan defeated defending champions India 5-4 to clinch the title of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2012 in Al Rayyan Stadium, Qatar on Thursday.
The catalysts of Pakistan’s nail-biting victory were skipper Mohammad Imran and Waqas Sharif, who scored two goals apiece.Shafqat Rasool scored one goal.
At the end of the first half, India were dominating with 2-1 lead but the men in green invaded drastically on the goal post after break and Rasool and Imran scored 2nd and 3rd goal in quick-succession to make it 3-2.
Soon after, Mohammad Waqas smashed a stunning goal to extend Pakistan’s goal lead to two goals.
With the score 4-2, Pakistan were seemed to register a comfortable win but Indian players hit back on the stoppage moments and scored two back-to-back goals to level the score 4-4.
However, another swashbuckling goal by Waqas sealed the 5-4 win for Pakistan.
Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf congratulated the team for the success.
