India won the Asian Champions Trophy in a thrilling five-goal encounter, beating arch-rivals Pakistan 3-2 in Kuantan on Sunday. India had a two-goal advantage through goals from Rupinder Pal Singh and Yousuf Affan but Pakistan made a resilient comeback to level scores through strikes from Aleem Bilal and Ali Shan. With 10 minutes left on the clock in the final quarter, Nikkin Thimmaiah netted the winner to give India their second win in the tournament.
Jasjit Singh had the chance to put India in the lead in the first quarter but his shot came at a comfortable height for the Pakistan goalkeeper. India was controlling possession and inevitably, it was Rupinder Pal Singh who scored, converting his penalty corner with a cracking shot to the left corner. It was the drag-flicker's 11th goal of the tournament.
India grew in confidence from there. With five minutes left for the end of the first half, Yousuf Affan struck for India. Talwinder Singh's shot across the face of goal found the Bhopal youngster at the far post, who nodded the ball home. Sardar Singh set it up with an excellent pass from midfield.
With only a couple of minutes left for the break, Aleem Bilal beat Akash Chite with a powerful shot, drilling it low past the goalkeeper's right.
Pakistan started on the front foot in the second half and the Indian defence, which had looked solid till that point, started to panic. The Indian backline was all over the place when the ball reached Ali Shan at the near post from a deflection, who slammed it home before Sardar Singh and Chitke could react.
India thought they had the lead a minute later when Ramandeep Singh's shot found the net. Their celebrations were halted by the umpire, who referred the decision to disallow the goal. India smarted from the goal in the final quarter. They started well and SK Uthappa made a couple of dangerous runs into the Pakistani circle.
Then, Jasjit Singh found Nikkin Thimmaiah with a defence-splitting pass, and the Indian forward took a touch before giving India the lead and ultimately, their second ACT title after they had won the inaugural one in 2011.
Brief score:
India 3 (Rupinder Pal Singh, Yousuf Affan, Nikkin Thimmaiah) beat Pakistan 2 (Aleem Bilal and Ali Shan)
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