Full-time
Pakistan
1-4
India
India made a strong start to their campaign in the World Cup 2010 as they trounced arch-rivals Pakistan 4-1 in their first game of the Hockey World Cup 2010.
Sandeep Singh scored two goals while Shivendra Singh and Prabhjot Singh celebrated with a goal each.
It was Shivendra Singh who started the proceedings for India as he slammed the first goal of the match in the 27th minute that was set up by captain Rajpal Singh. The home crowd roared in jubilation as the ball zoomed past the Pakistani wicketkeeper.
India's specialist drag flicker Sandeep Singh then pierced Pakistan's defence as he helped India take a 2-0 lead at half-time. The first half went into extra time and India had a chance to convert a penalty corner that they did, to put tremendous pressure on Pakistan.
Within minutes after coming from the first half break, Prabhjot Singh rubbed salt to the wounded Pakistani team in the 37th minute to take India ahead by 3-0.
Sandeep Singh then extended India's lead to 4-0 in the 57th minute with his second goal of the match as he sliced open Pakistan's defence with a shot straight into the back of Pakistan's goal net.
Pakistan, however, managed a mini fight back in the 59th minute as Sohail Abbas struck the only goal for Pakistan in the match to reduce the goal difference to 4-1.
Sandeep Singh, for his tremendous performance, was given the Man-of-the-match award.
