India Vs Pakistan Asian Champions Trophy 2024 Highlights: IND 2-1 PAK; Harmanpreet Gets A Brace

Welcome to the live coverage of the high voltage clash between India and Pakistan at the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir in China.

It is India vs Pakistan today at the Asian Champions Trophy. An India-Pakistan clash is always one to watch out for. Stakes are always high, no teams wants to lose this one. There's a long storied hockey history that the two nations have shared. United British India was a hockey giant. The 1947 partition split India into India and Pakistan and both of them had phenomenal hockey talent.

The two countries shared five Olympic gold medals between 1950s and 60s and continued to be the top teams of the world for a long time before declining.

India in recent times have emerged as a hockey power again winning two back-to-back Olympic bronze medals. Pakistan on the other hand remain far away from their glory days, missing three consecutive Olympics qualification.

India results so far at the Asian Champions Trophy 2024:

India 3-0 China

India 5-1 Japan

India 8-1 Malaysia

India 3-1 Korea

Pakistan results so far at the Asian Champions Trophy 2024:

Pakistan 2-2 Malaysia

Pakistan 2-2 Korea

Pakistan 2-1 Japan

Pakistan 5-1 China

In their last meeting at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, India thrashed Pakistan 10-2. A few months before that, the Indians beat Pakistan 4-0 when the ACT was held in Chennai.

India's line-up for the anticipated clash it out! Can the defending champions make it five out of five?

India and Pakistan have both sealed their semi-final spots, and will be eager to take all points on offer, and ride the momentum wave in the knockout fixture.

We are about to begin and stay tuned with us for the next one hour as we bring to you the play-by-play updates of the India-Pakistan clash.

The players stride out for the national anthems of their nations and we will start with India.

The anthems are done and we have the players doing high fives. We are about to begin with the live action.

The countdown is over and it is India who begin with the ball. The first quarter begins and India start agressively getting a circle entry within 30 seconds of the opening whistle.

12' India consistently lurking around the Pakistan's D and the passes are looking perfect in the midfield. India looking in total control yet again.

11' Pakistan make their first circle entry and they have a shot on the target too but it is saved easily by India's goalkeeper Krishna Bahadur Pathak. Good attack from Pakistan, will relieve some pressure from them.

9' Another impressive attack made by Pakistan. A strong cross from the right flank but both of Pakistani players, standing near the goalpost, miss the ball and it goes out of bounds. Two quality attacks in two minutes. Pakistan going well here.

7' PAK SCORE!!!

Pakistan have scored! The pressure works and Pakistan have managed to breach the Indian defence. A good run into the circle and then a good pass to Ahmed Nadeem who is right at the left corner from where he easily puts the ball into the goalpost. PAK move ahead and for the first time in this tournament, India has conceded the first goal.

2' IND SCORE!!!

It is Harmanpreet Singh again. Brilliant! No matter the pressure, no matter the odds. Harmanpreet Singh finds a way and India equalise through a PC. Great injection, and an even better finish from the Indian captain. Scores level.

1' Some good attacks from Pakistan and India have done well to take the ball on counter and put the opposition's defence under pressure. Pakistan making good runs through the midfield with the help of some really skillful hockey and then trying to get the goal through deflection.

First quarter over and we have got some really exciting hockey so far. Both teams level after the first fifteen minutes. India have done well but Pakistan have really threatened the Indian goalpost. Overall, a really balanced fifteen minutes.

The second quarter is underway now. India have yet again started agressively but Pakistani defence has denied them easy space around the D. Some really good hockey from both sides.

11' IND SCORE!!!

Yet again! India get a PC and Hamanpreet Singh gets a goal. India are ahead and both goals have come from the Indian captain. Tremendous temperament under pressure. Again good injection and then Haramanpreet makes no mistake. India are ahead now. Pressure back on Pakistan.

6' Some midfield back and forth between both the teams but no significant attacks. India have dominated possessions but have not been able to make strong circle entries. Both the goalkeepers breathing easy for the past few minutes.

1' Pakistan create a big chance here. A long ariel ball and Jarmanpreet could have intercepted it but fails and the ball is driven inside the circle but could not find a diving Pakistani player just outside the goal mouth. Pakistan manage to get a PC but nothing comes out of it as the flick is deemed dangerous.

It is halftime. India have taken the lead via Harmanpreet Singh's second goal. Two penalty corners for India and both of them converted by Harmanpreet. For Pakistan, they have managed to trouble India with some really good runs and then some dangerous deflections. They got the lead early through Nadeem Ahmed's deflection but India have managed to get two goals after that.

India have managed 54% of the possession so far and have been the dominating side with 12 circle entries as compared to Pakistan's 6.

We are in the penultimate quarter of the match now. India 2-1 ahead against Pakistan.

It is Pakistan who get going through a long ariel ball just seconds in the third quarter but nothing comes of it.

8' PC for India but good first rush from Pakistan and Harmanpreet's drag flick is blocked. And now we have a PC for Pakistan on the other end.

Sloppy from Pakistan. The injection was not stopped properly and a standing shot from Pakistan's drag flicker but Jarmanpreet Singh manages to save with his stick. A good save from India.

6' Another PC for Pakistan and another wasted opportunity. India's goalkeeper Krishna Pathak manages back to back saves and the second one better than the first. Pakistan denied and India continue to lead.

4' Another PC for Pakistan and another good save from Pathak. Not a very strong shot but it came off a deflection from an Indian defender to the Indian goalkeeper and yet Pathak remains sturdy and manages to clear the ball.

0.49' Back-to-back PCs for Pakistan and the first one is blocked by the first rusher but the second one is a poor attempt. In the second PC, Pakistan try a variation as the drag flicker tries to send the ball back to the injecter but it is a really poor pass and the ball goes miles away from the injecter.

Three quarters are done now. India are ahead but the lead is just one goal and Pakistan have looked really really dangerous. India would want to add at least one more goal while Pakistan are desperate for the equaliser.

The final fifteen minutes of the match are underway. It is India 2-1 Pakistan on the scoreline. The final fifteen minutes of both India and Pakistan's group stage at the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy here.

11' Two PCs for India but no goal this time. Jugraj Singh takes both the PCs for India and not Harmanpreet and Pakistan manage to block both the shots. The first shot is denied by the first rusher and India get a second PC. The shot comes in the second attempt but is stopped by the defend just inches away from the goalline. The ball is cleared and Pakistan manage to avert the danger.

10' Waheed Ashraf Rana sent off for the remainder of the match for serious misconduct. A yellow card and he is off the match for the next 10 minutes. India now have the advantage. It is 11 vs 10 in favour of India.

6' Big chance for India but they fail to get past the Pakistan goalkeeper. A good steal and the ball put inside the circle where Abhishek is unmarked to take the shot but he takes too much time and Pakistan regroup quickly to deny India a goal. This is clearly a missed chance.

2' Manpreet Singh handed a yellow card and India lose player advantage. Manpreet Singh has been sent off. Both teams now with just 10 players with one player each from both teams shown yellow card.

1' India get a PC and try a variation but another save from Pakistani defenders. Scoreline remains the same as the game enters the last minute.

India continue to have the ball but the attack did not come and that will be 2-1 in India's favour.

There is the final hooter and India have won the match. Not like the previous encounters where India demolished other teams but still a win is a win. A good game of hockey overall.

So, Harmanpreet with his two penalty corner goals has helped India earn a comeback victory against Pakistan and India go into the semifinals unbeaten at the Asian Champions Trophy 2024. Five matches five wins. But today's was really hard earned.

India were put on the backfoot early in the game with Ahmed Nadeem scoring in the sixth minute. Pressure was on India but Harmanpreet being Harmanpreet struck twice on two occassions in the first and second quarters to put India ahead and the scoreline remained the same for sixty minutes. An absolute cracker of a game. Pakistan had their moments and could have equalised. India also could have stretched their lead. Ultimately it was 2-1 to India.

India and Pakistan have both made it to the semifinals but their opponents are still not known. The match between Japan and China will decide the top four and you can follow the Japan vs China match LIVE HERE.

The semifinals are on 16th. India will play the fourth-placed team which will be decided after the China vs Japan encounter that will be underway soon.

If China win by less than five goals, India will play China in the semifinal. If China win by more than five goals, India will be up against Korea in the semifinal. If China lose, India will face Malaysia in the semifinal.

Thank you for following us today. India have booked a spot in the semifinal and we will be back with Indian action on Monday. Do not forget to join. Till then BYE.