India surrender two-goal lead, held by Pakistan

India surrender two-goal lead, held by Pakistan

IMAGE: India’s captain Manpreet Singh, centre, celebrates with Dilpreet Singh.  Photograph: Photograph: Hockey India/Twitter

India frittered away the advantage of a two-goal lead and were held 2-2

Pakistan in men’s hockey at the Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast on Saturday.

India led Pakistan 2-0 at the end of the second quarter, but Pakistan staged a strong recovery in the next two to take a point from the match.

India went ahead in the 13th minute through Dilpreet Singh, who tapped home a crisp cross from S V Sunil.

They could have increased the lead just before the end of the first quarter, but Rupinder Pal Singh's shot, with 40 seconds left, went over the crossbar.

A goal up at the end of the first quarter, Harmanpreet Singh doubled the lead, scoring from a penalty-corner with a low drive in the 19th minute.

Two goals down at the end of the second quarter, Pakistan started aggressively in the third and were rewarded when Mohammad Irfan Jr tapped the ball home after goalkeeper P Sreejesh failed to clear a shot from Rizwan.

Pakistan could have drawn level if not taken the lead immediately, but Sreejesh brought off three magnificent saves in a couple of minutes.

India survived some anxious moments thereafter as Pakistan pressed for the equalizer, which came seconds from the hooter from a penalty-corner. source rediff