The Indian hockey team continued its domination of arch-foes Pakistan, handing them a 6-1 thrashing in a 5th-8th place classification match of the Hero Hockey World league Semifinals here on Saturday.
Goals by Ramandeep Singh (8', 28'), Talwinder Singh (25'), Mandeep Singh (27', 59'), and Harmanpreet Singh (36') helped India decimate Pakistan and set up a clash with Canada in the 5th-6th pace playoff.
The result dented Pakistan's hopes of booking a berth to participate at the Hockey World Cup to be held in Bhubaneswar next year.
India displayed good attack right from the start with their first real shot on goal coming as early as the opening minute when Ramandeep Singh set up one for an unmarked Akashdeep Singh in the circle. India were seen putting pressure on Pakistan, interrupting their counter-attack cornering Pakistan player with a three-man defence.
The strategy worked, with Pakistan losing the possession. Satbir Singh, playing his 50th international match, was quick to spot Ramandeep in the circle who seized the opportunity for India to take a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute.
India took their lead to a convincing 4-0 in the second quarter. First it was Pardeep Mor who did well with a fierce pass to Talwinder Singh who simply had to angle his stick to beautifully deflect the ball into the post in the 25th minute. Brilliantly assisted by SV Sunil, Akashdeep was exceptional with his dribble in the baseline to get past the defender to nick the ball towards the net.
It was Mandeep Singh who got the touch on the ball before it beat the keeper to take India's lead to a healthy 3-0 in the 27th minute. India's fourth goal came in the next minute when Sunil assisted Ramandeep from the far post who scored his second goal of the match.