India crush Pakistan 7-1 in FIH Pro League
India produced a sensational performance to thrash arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1 in their FIH Pro League clash on Tuesday. The Indian team dominated from start to finish, scoring five goals in the second half to complete a comprehensive victory.
First half sets the tone
India took an early lead through a penalty corner conversion by Harmanpreet Singh in the 8th minute. Pakistan equalised briefly through a field goal by Abdul Rana in the 15th minute, but India regained the lead before half-time via a strike from Mandeep Singh in the 22nd minute.
Second half onslaught
The Indian team stepped up the intensity after the break, scoring four goals in a 15-minute spell. Gurjant Singh made it 3-1 in the 38th minute, followed by goals from Shamsher Singh (42nd minute), Vivek Sagar Prasad (48th minute), and Lalit Upadhyay (52nd minute). Captain Harmanpreet Singh completed the scoring with his second goal of the match from a penalty stroke in the 56th minute.
Dominant statistics
India held 68% possession and had 12 shots on goal compared to Pakistan's 4. The Indian defence was rock-solid, with goalkeeper PR Sreejesh making crucial saves to keep Pakistan at bay. India also won 8 penalty corners to Pakistan's 2.
"It was a complete team performance. The boys executed our plans perfectly, especially in the second half. We are happy with the result but we know there is still room for improvement," said Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh after the match.
Impact on standings
The victory moved India to the top of the FIH Pro League standings with 15 points from 6 matches. Pakistan remained at the bottom with just 2 points from 5 games. India will next face Australia in their upcoming Pro League fixture.
