BANGALORE, March 28: Displaying better co-ordination in their attack and utilising chances, Pakistan recorded a 4-0 victory over India at the Akkithimmanahalli Hockey Stadium here on Saturday to end their Indian tour on a triumphant note.The overwhelming imbalance in the scoreline did justice to the domination the rivals from across the border exercised during the match. All four goals Pakistan scored, twice each on either side of the interval, were classic examples of attacks originating from the mid-field, perfectly utilised by a well coordinated forward-line. The combination of Tahir Zaman and Kamran Ashraf proved deadly yet again with Shahbaz Ahmed distracting the rival defence.
Pakistan skipper Tahir Zaman came up with a splendid show playing from the pivotal centre-half position. An imaginative through pass that enabled Kamran Ashraf to take the first shot at the Indian goal. Jagadish Ponnappa blocked, but Babar Abdullah was around to collect the rebound and scoop the ball into the net to puthis side ahead in the 27th minute.
Pakistan pumped in one more goal, four minutes later, again through a Tahir-Kamran move. Tahir sent Kamran on a splitting through pass, which the latter relayed to Rahim Khan inside the `D'. Rahim, on his part set an unmarked Shahbaz Ahmed who unleashed a stinger.
In the second half, India brought in Riaz and Tirkey, but the 2-0 lead had given the Pakistanis the much needed fillip to play with confidence. In the 45th minute, Kamran, put himself on the scorers' list, again trapping a Tahir Zaman through pass. With five minutes left Asif Ahmed scooped home following a Kamran-Rahim Khan passing bout.
India's cup of woes seemed to be filled to the brim when Harbhajan Singh scooped a penalty stroke straight into goalkeeper Mohammed Qasim.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
