In a nail-biting thriller, India beat Pakistan in the finals of the Hockey Asia Cup 2023 by 2-0 on penalties. The table toppers gave a furious fight to the Men in Blue but failed to hold their nerve during the penalty shootout. After finishing 4-4 in regulation time, the game went on to shootouts, which India won amazingly.
Earlier in the game, India started on a high note with a fiery deep push in the Pakistani half. However, Pakistan retaliated and started pushing back from the left flank. Despite efforts from Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, Abdul Rehman scored the first goal for Pakistan in the 5th minute of the game. In a sudden response, Indian striker Jugraj Singh levelled the score in just two minutes.
Soon, India skipper Maninder Singh scored from the right flank and gave India a much-needed lead in the 10th minute. Pakistan didn't go down easily and retaliated with two back-to-back goals in the 13th and 14th minutes of the game. The match went into halftime with Pakistan having a 3-2 lead over the Indian team. However, this didn't shatter India's hopes, as they were back with a bang.
India made a remarkable comeback to stay in the game
As India required a retaliation, Pakistan struck one more goal with Arshad Liaquat's 19th-minute right flank push. 4-2 down in the game, India needed a push, which came from Mohammed Raheel. In the 19th minute itself, he pushed deep into the Pakistani half and struck to reduce the deficit. In the 26th minute, India got an equaliser as Raheel once again struck the opposition net.
With this game went the penalty, which India won successfully. India's Maninder Singh and Gurjot Singh demonstrated their composure as they calmly slotted the ball into the net, securing crucial goals for their team. The Indian goalkeeper, Suraj Karkera, showcased his remarkable skill by thwarting the efforts of two Pakistani players, Arshad Liaqat and Muhammad Murtaza. With this victory, India ranks first among Asian countries.
Here is how fans reacted to India's remarkable victory in the Asia Cup:
We are not crying nation like india
โ Husnain Bukhari ๐ซ๐ท๐ต๐ฐ (@Husnainbukhari_) September 2, 2023
we congratulate india on winning and Pakistan on reaching in the Final
Let's laugh on Pakistan ๐
โ Shivani (@shivani__D) September 2, 2023
Cricket mai Bach Gaye Rain ki vajah se but hockey mai pele Gaye ๐๐๐ญ#PKMKB
โ Shivani (@shivani__D) September 2, 2023
this is the diffrence between ICT and indian hockey team. hockey team is full of clutch players while cricket team is full chokers except hardik and virat
โ ๐๐จ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ!๐๐ง_๐๐ฉ (@bholination) September 2, 2023
That proves baap is always baap.
โ *Roe Joot* (@ImGani22) September 2, 2023
this is the team we want n not this chhmiya pic.twitter.com/hiBMe0ve9t
โ Moana (@ladynationalist) September 2, 2023
Congratulations team India #Hockey5sWorldCup pic.twitter.com/j45krSPY7K
โ Amrit Chandravanshi (@Ek_Indian07) September 2, 2023
Pakistan is born to loose from india ๐
โ DETAILBRAIN (@detailbrain66) September 2, 2023
Chalo kahi toh match complete hua. Well played team๐ซก
โ Yash Jadhav (@farzi_rtist) September 2, 2023
ek ye hai aur ek wo
โ Arshhhhhh (@ArshVAL) September 2, 2023
Har sports mein pele jate hai ๐ญ
โ Siaโ (@siappaa_) September 2, 2023
It's time to move on from cricket to other sports ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
โ CA Nilisha Mantri (@nilishamantri_) September 2, 2023
Congratulations team India pic.twitter.com/f2ZqC6htkr
โ ๐ฎ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ (@Bhaaratmaataa) September 2, 2023
Ye naya bharat hai ๐๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ
โ DENGUE (@Den__gue) September 2, 2023
Bleed blue ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ณ
โ Doctor Adaniโข (@AdaniHu) September 2, 2023