Ramandeep’s brace help India thrash Pakistan 6-1

Ramandeep draws first blood

The second quarter started off with Sardar Singh getting a green card and while the Indian legend was still in the sin-bin, Umair Sarfraz handed a yellow to reduce both teams to ten men. Pakistan immediately switched to a man-to-man marking system to see the first half near the final five minutes. But India were in no mood to enter the midway break with a slender lead and they increased the tempo of the game and were rewarded almost immediately as Talwinder got at the end of a Pradeep Mor shot to double the lead. Three minutes later, it was the same result but a different goal scorer with Akashdeep “flicking” India into a three-goal lead. But the goal scoring wasn’t done yet as some brilliant passing by Mandeep and Sunil released Ramandeep who doubled his tally for the game and took India into half-time with a dominant 4-0 lead.

With a comfortable lead in the bag, India took off goalkeeper Akash Chikte to give Vikas Dahiya another chance in the team. On the other end of the field, it was as if nothing had changed as Ramandeep fell inches short of completing his hattrick after failing to get at the end of a Mor pass. But India were not to be denied a fifth goal as Harmanpreet Singh put the ball past Ali Amjad in the Pakistan goal from a penalty corner. With a more than comfortable lead, India took the foot off the gas and paid the price as Ajaz Ahmed was the fastest on the counter as Pakistan scored their first goal of the match. Following the goal, India regained their composure and fashioned a chance of their own with Akashdeep’s pass was slightly over hit for Sunil who couldn’t apply the finishing touch. The Indian defence looked resolute after that and saw out the quarter with the scoreboard reflecting a cool 5-1 in their favour. 

India put six past hapless Pakistan