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Summary
Great teamwork and high penalty conversion rate script Indian win in their World Cup opener against arch-rivals Pakistan. India dismissed Pakistan 4-1 and the scoreline could actually have been healthier. A double strike by Sandeep Singh after Shivendra Singh drew first blood gave India a rousing start on Day 1 of the world championship. Prabhjot Singh underlined his class, scoring Indias third goal after the hosts took the breather leading 2-0. India put the Pakistani deep defence under tremendous pressure right from the start. Tushar Khandekar almost got the first goal in the eighth minute. An attack fashioned by Rajpal Singh and Vikram Pillai opened the face of the Pakistan goal, but Khandekars fierce finish met goalkeeper Salman Akbars chest. India won their third corner with seconds left for half-time, via the TV referral system. The result was goal No. 2, a classical drag flickers finish by the specialist, Sandeep. India could not have asked for a better opening session. Prabhjot carried on from where India left at half-time. Two minutes into the second session, the veteran capped yet another great teamwork in the scoring area. The fruit of Gurwinder Chandis alacrity was eaten by Prabhjot with a cool finish (3-1). India put the game beyond Pakistan when Sandeep scored his second goal in the 55th minute. Veteran defender and former skipper Sohail Abbas twice hit the crosspiece from penalty corners. In the 58th minute, he finally found the mark with a trademark finish that left goalie Sreejesh with no answer. Abbas goal was a much-needed consolation for a Pakistani team that lacked spark in such a needle game.
