It was, at times, too easy for India, even if it wasn’t at its best.
India further reiterated the gulf in class against its neighbour Pakistan with a 5-3 win to punch its ticket to the second round. In recent meetings, the Green Shirts hadn’t done justice to their sporting arch-rival tag and this World Cup contest in Amstelveen at the Wagener Stadion on Wednesday was no different.
It was a high-stakes game on paper with expats from the South Asian nations adding vibrant colours and atmosphere to the setting. There was no added spike with both teams continuing their tradition of pre-match high-fives, as the mood extended to the game with the manner of the goals spread around between them.
Pakistan was content playing on the counter with India having to devise ways to break down its defense. There were plenty of long balls but Pakistan was kind enough to afford space for India inside the circle, which India capitalised on.
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India’s efficiency from Penalty Corners has been among its high points of this campaign and skipper Harmanpreet Singh underscored the attribute with two goals from set-pieces. A powerful dragpush to the right corner opened India’s scoring in the fourth minute.
In open play, Abhishek Nain threatened from the left with his close control and dribbling. For both his goals, he was found inside the circle with long balls from India’s defenders. The forward danced his way past a number of bodies before his cutbacks into the face of goal took deflections from Pakistani defenders to score India’s second and fourth.
India was cruising for three quarters of the game, except for the second, when a drop in intensity and misplaced passes resulted in Pakistan’s ascendency. Vivek Sagar Prasad was caught on the ball and Pakistan got its first big break from the turnover. In the resulting play, Suraj Karkera kicked out Shahid Hannan’s first effort but was slow with his reflexes to keep out Hannan’s rebound push on the run.
Pakistan responded immediately with its own short corner with Sufyan Khan scoring after a deflection off of India’s first-rusher for the side’s second goal.
| Photo Credit:
Hockey India
Pakistan responded immediately with its own short corner with Sufyan Khan scoring after a deflection off of India’s first-rusher for the side’s second goal.
| Photo Credit:
Hockey India
In the second quarter, Rajinder Singh’s effort was saved from a variation but the midfielder quickly found his skipper in space. Harmanpreet set himself up with a touch before sounding the board to go top of the goal-scorer’s standings. But Pakistan responded immediately with its own short corner with Sufyan Khan scoring after a deflection off of India’s first-rusher.
In the third quarter, Aditya Lalege was fouled inside the circle, earning a Penalty Stroke from which Hardik Singh sent the Pakistan goalkeeper the wrong way.
Hardik, then, handed the initiative back with a misplaced pass, setting Hannan through on goal to lift the ball over Karkera for Pakistan’s third. Pakistan pushed hard in the final minutes when it earned a PC but failed with its execution, giving India breathing room with the scoreline.
After the England defeat, Craig Fulton would be pleased with the side ticking off the first target of the World Cup by securing qualification to the top eight phase. Things will only get harder from here on but does this Indian team have more to offer?
Result:
Pakistan 3 (Hannan Shahid 21’ 45’, Sufyan Khan 24’ – PC) lost to India 5 (Harmanpreet Singh 4’ – PC 20’ – PC, Abhishek Nain 10’ 23’, Hardik Singh 34’ – PS)
Published on Aug 19, 2026
