Kuala Lumpur, Sept 28: Ignace Tirkey played the game of his life as India thrashed bitter rivals Pakistan 4-2 in a nerve-wracking final to win their first ever Asia Cup title and a berth in the 2006 World Cup here today. With the teams locked 2-2 and the match appearing to be headed towards extra time with just one minute 27 seconds left on the clock, Ignace did a Houdini act to score off a solo dribble on receiving a pass from Baljeet Singh Saini.
The drama was not over as yet as India capped their superb show with another goal by Prabhjot Singh 14 seconds from the hooter.
The victory helped India settle more than one score as they were defeated by Pakistan by the same margin in the league match earlier in the tournament. India also avenged their defeat in the bronze medal play-off in the Champions Trophy last month as well as their 2-0 thrashing in the 1989 edition at New Delhi, the last time the arch-rivals met in the final of Asia Cup. The victory, which put paid to Pakistan's aspirations to win their fourth Asia Cup title after they won it last in New Delhi, was especially sweet for India as they had finished bridesmaid on four occasions earlier, being forced to be content with the runners-up title.
Playing their first major tournament without their drag flick ace Jugraj Singh, India opened their account in the sixth minute when Kanwalpreet Singh converted their first penalty corner. For Pakistan, penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas scored both the goals in the first half in the 7th and 12th minute.
Undoubtedly, it was India who dominated their continental rivals for the greater part of the game, dishing out an excellent fare and outplaying Pakistan constantly.
Ignace, declared the ‘Man of the Match’, played like a man possessed, dribbling with great skill and accuracy. His set pieces and tackling left rival defenders in a daze and they struggled to keep up with his pace, making mistakes in collecting the ball and indulging in wayward passes. There was a collective gasp from the spectators as Ignace scored India's third goal to seal the fate of Pakistan as there was less than two minutes left on the clock.
There was some consolation for pakistan though as they earned the 'Fairplay Award' and their highest goal scorer ever Sohail being named the 'Player of the Tournament'.
India's upcoming forward Sandeep Michael was adjudged the 'Most Promising Player' of the tournament which saw India lose just one of their matches in what proved to be a superb outing for the Asian Games silver medallists.
There was never a dull moment in the first half as the teams went all out right from the outset with India earning their first penalty corner in the fifth minute itself. A bad clearance by the Pakistani defender saw India get another corner immediately after and Kanwalpreet Singh made no mistake with his drag flick to give India a 1-0 lead.
But even before the Indian players finished celebrating their breakthrough, Pakistan equalised in the very next minute with ace defender Sohail Abbas unleashing his deadly drag flick to convert Pakistan's first penalty corner (1-1). Within five minutes of the goal, Pakistan surged ahead to a 2-1 lead with Sohail once again making no mistake with his trademark flick in the 12th minute.
The Indians regrouped and played some intelligent hockey to dispossess the ball from their rivals. Their tackles were impressive and their efforts bore fruit when forward Gagan Ajit Singh deflected the ball in to even scores at 2-2.
India's forward line appeared to have learnt from the mistakes committed in the previous matches and though Dhanraj Pillay displayed an ordinary game, they did not let go of chances that came their way.
The tension and thrill that goes with every India-Pakistan match was very much on show with green cards being shown to Mohammad Saqlain and Ignace and the umpires having a tough time convincing the players of his decisions.
Bureau Report