U-18 Hockey: India egde Bangladesh for Asia Cup

Members of the India U-18 hockey team pose with the Asia Cup winners’ trophy in Dhaka on Friday. India beat Bangladesh 5-4 in the final.

A last minute strike gave India a 5-4 victory in their final game against hosts Bangladesh and helped them lift the Under-18 men’s Asia Cup in Dhaka on Friday.

In what was almost a replay of the opening game, the two teams treated the fans to a thrilling nine-goal encounter with India emerging triumphant in the end.

India got off to a quick start and kept the ball in their possession as they searched for an opening to penetrate the rival circle. While India held the possession, Bangladesh waited for the counter. From a counter, the home team won a PC, and after the initial save by Pankaj Kumar Rajak, M. Roman Sarkar netted the ball to give the hosts the lead.

India were quick to score the equaliser through Shivam Anand.

India earned one more PC but yet another error denied them a goal.

From a counter Bangladesh ran through the midfield, before a cross from the left found Mohammad Mohsin, who deflected the ball to give the hosts a lead again to go into the break 2-1 up.

After the break, India levelled the scores via Hardik Singh’s PC before Dilpreet Singh netted the ball to hand the visiting team a 3-1 lead.

In a topsy-turvy game, Bangladesh equalised with Mohammed Ashraful Islam scoring in the 60th minute.

But Ibungo Singh Konjengbam fired India back in the front again.

Bangladesh also fought back and Mahabub Hossain levelled the scores after a quick counter in the 64th minute.

With the scores tied 4-4 and the threat of a shootout looming, a quick counter saw Abhishek in the box and his deflection guided India to the title with just seconds to the hooter.