India kept their hopes of playing the championship match at the 2012 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup alive, with a goal from SV Sunil in the dying minutes giving Michael Nobbs' men a thrilling 2-1 victory over archrivals Pakistan in Ipoh on Thursday.
India went into the lead in the 31st minute when Sandeep Singh slotted one in past the Pakistan goalkeeper off the first of four penalty corners India earned in the match.
Pakistan, who earned as many as six penalty corners, converted one through their skipper and world's highest goal-scorer Sohail Abbas in the 60th minute as the two teams picked up pace in the last 15 minutes, displaying the flair associated with Asian hockey.
With goal-scoring opportunities coming few and far 10 minutes into the match, Pakistan created an opening in the 13th minute, but the unmarked Shafqat Rasool's reverse hit couldn't beat custodian Bharat Chetri, who was in red hot form in the goal. Pakistan tried to force the issue with two penalty corners in the following minute but failed to breach the Indian defence.
India managed to put Pakistan under pressure in the last five minutes of the first half and earned a penalty corner which Sandeep sent crashing into the net. Pakistan earned two more penalty corners before the half-time hooter, but failed to find the equaliser as the teams returned to the change rooms with India leading 1-0.
The second half began on a fast note, with India earning their second penalty corner in the 38th minute, but with Sandeep not on the pitch, the chance went a begging. Pakistan regrouped in the last quarter of the match and finally found the equaliser through Abbass who scored off a penalty corner.
As the match entered the last five minutes, both the teams displayed end-to-end stuff, but it was Sunil's pace that turned the match in India's favour. Off a counter-attack stitched by Sardar Singh in the 69th minute, Sunil dived in the Pakistan circle to deflect a through ball into the goal to spark off wild celebrations.
However, despite this win, India's chances of playing the 1st-2nd place playoff hang by a thread. India are now level at 9 points with New Zealand and Argentina, who have two and one match, respectively, in hand. Also Great Britain are breathing down India's neck with 8 points and a match in hand.
So it means India would want two teams out of New Zealand, Argentina and Great Britain to lose all their matches and then have the goal difference turn up in their favour to harbour any hopes of playing for the trophy.
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